Bigos (Polish Hunter’s Stew) - Master recipes

Ingredients

• 1 ounce dried porcini or other wild mushrooms -
• 2 Tbsp bacon fat or vegetable oil -
• 2 pounds pork shoulder -
• 1 large onion, chopped -
• 1 head cabbage (regular, not savoy or red), chopped -
• 1 1/2 pounds mixed fresh mushrooms -
• 1-2 pounds kielbasa or other smoked sausage -
• 1 smoked ham hock -
• 1 pound fresh Polish sausage (optional) -
• 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 bottle of pilsner or lager beer -
• 1 Tbsp juniper berries (optional) -
• 1 Tbsp black peppercorns -
• 1 Tbsp caraway seeds -
• 2 Tbsp dried marjoram -
• Salt -
• 20 prunes, sliced in half (optional) -
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste (optional) -
• 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce (optional) -
• 1-2 Tbsp mustard or horseradish (optional) -