Bigos, also known as Polish hunter’s stew, is a hearty autumn and winter dish made with various bits of chopped meats cooked with sauerkraut and fresh cabbage. The sauerkraut’s sharpness is tempered somewhat by the fresh cabbage, but it can be made only using fresh cabbage, if you prefer. As with most stews, the longer it’s cooked, the better it is. It’s even better the next day and continues to improve the more often it’s reheated. As this recipe makes a lot, you can freeze some to have later.
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Yield/Servings Serves 6-8 as a main, more as a side
30 minPrep Time
1 hr, 45 Cook Time
2 hr, 15 Total Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 kg (2 lbs) sauerkraut, preferably made with salt brine
- water
- Half a medium head of cabbage, shredded (approx. 500 g/1 lb)
- 250 g (½ lb) bacon, sliced fine
- Lard OR other fat for sautéing (such as butter or vegetable oil), as needed
- 250 g (½ lb) beef chuck or round, cut into 2 cm (¾") pieces
- 250 g (½ lb) pork shoulder or belly, cut into 2 cm (¾") pieces
- 200 g (7 oz.) kielbasa sausage, sliced thin
- Handful of dried mushrooms, broken into pieces (approx. half a 14 g packet) OR 75 g fresh mushrooms, sliced (about 250 ml/1 cup)
- 2 or 3 minced garlic cloves (2-3 teaspoons), optional
- 5 prunes, chopped and rehydrated in boiling water, drained (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds, lightly crushed
- 1 to 2 tablespoons sweet paprika (to taste)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- As a main: potatoes (boiled or mashed), potato pierogis, or rye bread
- As side: schnitzel or roast meats.
Method
- In a large pot, boil the sauerkraut in 500 ml water (about 2 cups), uncovered for about 15 minutes. In a second pot, add the cabbage and pour in just enough water to not quite cover. Boil, uncovered, until tender, about 25 to 35 minutes.
- As the cabbages boil, sauté the bacon to render the fat. Remove the meat and set aside. Brown the pork and beef in the bacon fat, adding lard or other cooking fat, if necessary. Remove and keep the meat with the cooked bacon. Reserve the cooking juices. If you’re using fresh mushrooms, sauté them (with garlic, if using).
- In the larger of the two pots, combine the cabbage and sauerkraut and their cooking waters, cooked meats and their juices, sausage, mushrooms (dried or sautéed), prunes (if using), bay leaf, and spices.
- Leave the pot uncovered and let it boil for 10 minutes. Lower the heat and let simmer, still uncovered, for 1 hour (or longer, if you wish), stirring occasionally. Be sure to add water if you think the pot boil may dry. It should be sour, but balance flavours to taste.
Notes
Variations: • All Cabbage/No sauerkraut: Instead of using sauerkraut, use a whole head of cabbage, sliced thin. • Different meats: Substitute or mix in different cuts of pork and beef (including ribs), veal, poultry or game. • Vegetarian: Instead of meat, use 150 to 225 g (500 to 750 ml or 2 to 3 cups) of sautéed fresh mushrooms, and add carrots, potatoes, and onions.
A version of this recipe appeared in my profile of Anna Eckiert for my World of Food column for Grand Magazine (September-October 2019).