Bigos

Poland

Also known as Hunter's Stew

About Bigos

Bigos, often called hunter's stew, is Poland's national dish: a rich stew of sauerkraut and fresh cabbage cooked slowly with various meats and sausages, mushrooms, onions and spices.

Pork, sausage and bacon are common, and hunters traditionally added game. Dried forest mushrooms, prunes, bay leaves, allspice, marjoram and a little red wine add depth. It is cooked for hours and reheated over several days, which makes it even tastier.

Bigos is eaten in winter, at Christmas and Easter, and is a favorite at gatherings. It is served with rye bread or potatoes and goes well with a glass of vodka.

Ingredients

• sauerkraut
• fresh cabbage
• pork shoulder
• sausage
• bacon
• mushrooms
• onions
• bay leaves
• marjoram
• red wine