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Printed at the current scale: 10 servings · As Written · front and back, more cards if it runs long

Bigos (Polish Hunter's Stew)

10 servings · 4 × 6 in
Dried Mushrooms
1 ½ cups dried mushrooms (porcini or other forest mushrooms)
1 ½ cups water, for soaking
Stew
250 g pork shoulder, cut into bite-sized pieces
250 g beef chuck, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tsp salt, for the meat
black pepper, for the meat, to taste
2 to 3 tbsp oil
6 slices smoked bacon, cut into small pieces
1 large onion, chopped
225 g button mushrooms, sliced
1 head small head of white cabbage, thinly sliced
500 g smoked kielbasa, diced
250 ml chicken, beef or vegetable stock
170 g tomato paste
2 tsp salt
4 to 5 leaves bay leaves
1 clove garlic, crushed
10 whole black peppercorns
10 whole allspice berries
½ tsp ground black pepper
1.5 kg sauerkraut, drained, juice kept
6 pitted prunes
forklet.co/r/kNDH7M7m?units=as_written · v1
  1. Dried Mushrooms Soak 1 ½ cups dried mushrooms (porcini or other forest mushrooms) in 1 ½ cups water, for soaking for about 1 h.
  2. Simmer the mushrooms in their soaking water in a small pot until tender, watching it as it likes to boil over. Lift them out, chop them and keep the liquid. 15 min to 20 min
  3. Stew Season 250 g pork shoulder and 250 g beef chuck with 1 tsp salt, for the meat and black pepper, for the meat.
  4. Heat 2 to 3 tbsp oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat and brown the meat in batches. Lift it out onto a plate. 10 min to 15 min
  5. Add 6 slices smoked bacon to the pot and let it render for a few minutes. 3 min to 5 min
  6. Add 1 large onion and 225 g button mushrooms and fry until golden, about 3 min.
  7. Add 1 head small head of white cabbage, the browned meat and the chopped dried mushrooms with their cooking liquid. Stir in 500 g smoked kielbasa, 250 ml chicken, beef or vegetable stock, 170 g tomato paste, 2 tsp salt, 4 to 5 leaves bay leaves, 1 clove garlic, 10 whole black peppercorns, 10 whole allspice berries and ½ tsp ground black pepper.
  8. Cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring now and then, for about 15 min.
  9. Stir in 1.5 kg sauerkraut and 6 pitted prunes, cover and cook gently for 1 h 30 min, stirring from time to time so nothing sticks.
  10. Take off the heat, cool, and refrigerate overnight. 8 h
  11. The next day, bring it back to a gentle simmer and cook about 1 h, uncovered if there is a lot of liquid. Taste: add a splash of the sauerkraut juice if it needs more tang, or salt if flat. Repeat on the third day for the best bigos.
  • Safety: Large batch: cool quickly in shallow containers or an ice bath, to below 5 °C within 6 hours, before refrigerating. (USDA FSIS)
  • Safety: Cool the pot quickly between reheatings (spread it into shallow containers or stand the pot in cold water) and keep it in the fridge. Bring it back to a full simmer every time you reheat it. (The author)
  • Safety: Whole cuts of pork should reach 63 °C (145 °F) at the centre, then rest 3 minutes. (USDA FSIS)
  • Safety: Whole cuts of beef should reach 63 °C (145 °F) at the centre, then rest 3 minutes. (USDA FSIS)
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