Bigos (Hunter's Stew) Recipe
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Bigos (Hunter's Stew)

By: MJ46NY 
"A traditional Polish stew using pork, kielbasa, and sauerkraut. Great for a cold winters day. Well worth the time it takes to make it!"

Prep Time:
45 Min
Cook Time:
3 Hrs
Ready In:
3 Hrs 45 Min

Servings  (Help)

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Original Recipe Yield 10 servings
 

Ingredients

  • 2 thick slices hickory-smoked bacon
  • 1 pound kielbasa sausage, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 pound cubed pork stew meat
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1 1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 4 cups shredded green cabbage
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar sauerkraut, rinsed and well drained
  • 1/4 cup dry red wine
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon caraway seed, crushed
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 ounce dried mushrooms
  • 1 dash bottled hot pepper sauce
  • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
  • 5 cups beef stock
  • 2 tablespoons canned tomato paste
  • 1 cup canned diced tomatoes

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the bacon and kielbasa; cook and stir until the bacon has rendered its fat and sausage is lightly browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat and transfer to a large casserole or Dutch oven.
  3. Coat the cubes of pork lightly with flour and fry them in the bacon drippings over medium-high heat until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork to the casserole. Add the garlic, onion, carrots, fresh mushrooms, cabbage and sauerkraut. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir until the carrots are soft, about 10 minutes. Do not let the vegetables brown.
  4. Deglaze the pan by pouring in the red wine and stirring to loosen all of the bits of food and flour that are stuck to the bottom. Season with the bay leaf, basil, marjoram, paprika, salt, pepper, caraway seeds and cayenne pepper; cook for 1 minute.
  5. Mix in the dried mushrooms, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, tomato paste and tomatoes. Heat through just until boiling. Pour the vegetables and all of the liquid into the casserole dish with the meat. Cover with a lid.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until meat is very tender.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 356 | Total Fat: 23.5g | Cholesterol: 62mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 10, 2009 by DESIDERATA   view full review
My exhusband is from Poland and made this often. I have made this recipe several times now...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 27, 2008 by Caroline C   view full review
I had to make a few changes due to personal preferences, and what I had on hand (I'll be...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 22, 2010 by JOANNA1101   view full review
original recipe don't leave out the kraut or paste! Those are the key ingredients. Drop in...
The reviewer gave this recipe 2 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 16, 2010 by Genevieve   view full review
Um, it's a very generic, salty dish that doesn't bear much of a similarity to the Polish...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 22, 2010 by ania Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
The more meat you add the better! Just like Babcia used to make. I also add 1cup of chopped...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 8, 2009 by RoseRover   view full review
Good recipe. A previous roommate of mine was Polish and made a variation of this often. Great...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 21, 2011 by katie.potato   view full review
I made a quick-and-easy version. Brown the bacon, chopped pork loin (more tender than stew...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 26, 2009 by Martina S.   view full review
I am polish and this was great! I did not bake it but just let it cook in one pot, the way my...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 9, 2009 by BASIAKAL   view full review
Yup, this is the authentic Bigos! The longer you cook it, the better, and it gets better...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 7, 2011 by ewa   view full review
I am Polish and had bigos many many times. I have never seen wine as an ingredient of any...

 

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