Bigos (Polish Hunter’s Stew) Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 ounce dried porcini or other wild mushrooms
• 1 Tbsp juniper berries (optional)
• 1 Tbsp black peppercorns
• 2 pounds pork shoulder
• 1-2 pounds kielbasa or other smoked sausage
• 1 25-ounce jar of fresh sauerkraut (we recommend Bubbies, which you may be able to find in the refrigerated section of your local supermarket)
• 1 1/2 pounds mixed fresh mushrooms
• 2 Tbsp bacon fat or vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 head cabbage (regular, not savoy or red), chopped
• Salt
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste (optional)
• 1 smoked ham hock
• 1 pound fresh Polish sausage (optional)
• 1 Tbsp caraway seeds
• 2 Tbsp dried marjoram
• 1 bottle of pilsner or lager beer
• 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce (optional)
• 20 prunes, sliced in half (optional)
• 1-2 Tbsp mustard or horseradish (optional)