Bigos (Polish hunter's stew)

Bigos (Polish hunter's stew)

Bigos, also known as Polish hunter's stew, is a rich and hearty dish combining cabbage, meats, mushrooms, and aromatic spices. This traditional stew offers deep, comforting flavors that improve with time.

Beef

Prep Time

30 min

Cook Time

130 min

Servings

6

Bigos is a classic Polish hunter's stew with roots tracing back centuries, traditionally prepared by hunters to make use of available game and preserved ingredients. This hearty meal is known for its harmonious blend of various meats, sauerkraut or cabbage, and a symphony of spices, creating a deeply savory and satisfying dish. The slow cooking process melds the flavors beautifully, resulting in a stew that's both nourishing and richly complex. Typically enjoyed during colder months, bigos pairs wonderfully with rustic rye bread or boiled potatoes, making it a perfect centerpiece for family gatherings or festive occasions. The inclusion of fruits like prunes and warm spices such as cloves and allspice give the stew a subtle sweetness and aromatic depth, elevating it beyond a simple meat and cabbage dish. Preparing bigos can be an engaging process, requiring patience and love as flavors develop over time. It's best cooked in a heavy casserole dish over low heat, and like many stews, the taste actually improves after a day or two, making it an ideal dish to prepare in advance.

Ingredients

  • 1 sliced White Cabbage
  • 250 ml Beef Stock
  • 100 g Mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoon Lard
  • 400 g German Sausages
  • 250 g Bacon
  • 2 chopped Onion
  • 750 g Beef
  • 200 g Prunes
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 2 Cloves
  • 12 Peppercorns
  • 4 Juniper Berries
  • 4 Allspice Berries
  • 90 ml Red Wine
  • 2 tablespoon Tomato Puree

Instructions

Begin by placing the sliced white cabbage into a sturdy, heavy casserole dish. Pour in the beef stock, then set the pot over low heat, allowing the cabbage to gently simmer for approximately 50 minutes, or until it becomes tender and infused with the rich stock flavors. This slow cooking will soften the cabbage perfectly, forming a comforting base for the stew. While the cabbage cooks, prepare your mushrooms by soaking them and then slicing into strips, carefully reserving the soaking water to capture all the earthy mushroom essence. In a separate pan, heat the lard and fry the German sausages and bacon until browned and fragrant. Once cooked, remove the meats from the pan, leaving the delicious rendered fat behind, which will add depth to the onions. Next, sauté the chopped onions in the leftover fat over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes, until they develop a light golden brown color, adding a subtle sweetness to the stew. Return the sliced mushrooms with their soaking liquid to the pan, then add the cooked meats, sautéed onions, and prunes, stirring to combine these rich, hearty ingredients. Cover the casserole and let these flavors meld together over 20 minutes of gentle cooking. Then, stir in the fragrant spices — bay leaf, cloves, peppercorns, juniper berries, and allspice berries — along with the red wine and tomato purée. Bring the mixture to a delicate simmer, then cover again and continue cooking over low heat for one hour. This slow simmer allows the flavors to deepen and mingle beautifully. After cooking, season the bigos well with salt and pepper to taste. It's important to let the stew cool before storing; bigos keeps well refrigerated for up to two days and actually tastes even better the next day, as the flavors have time to develop fully. When ready to serve, gently reheat the stew until it is piping hot, ensuring the hearty, comforting flavors are at their best.

Quick Info

Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
130 min
Total Time
160 min
Servings
6