Wykwintny Bigos (elegant mess)
Info
Time
Difficulty
Servings
Ingredients
2 onions large, sweet, chopped
4 cloves garlic peeled
3 pounds sauerkraut preferably fresh
2 potatoes cut into eighths
15 peppercorns black
2 apples peeled, cored, halved
2 cans beef broth
1/2 bottle (or so) red wine "sturdy"
1 cup vodka (pref. Polish)
8 ounces bacon thick-cut, smoked, cut into 1/2-inch squares
a number frankfurters or other German-style sausages, as many as you like!
8 ounces kielbasa cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 pounds ham smoked, pig's knuckles, ham hocks, other pig parts, esp. tails, ankles or necks
be creative!
- Place onions in a bowl and mix with salt; set aside. Place a large skillet over medium heat; saute bacon until brown and crisp. Remove from pan and set aside. Add onions to bacon grease; saute over medium heat until golden, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place sauerkraut in the biggest dish you can find. Add the onions, potatoes, garlic, peppercorns, apples and all meats except frankfurters, sausages and kielbasa. Mix well. Add enough broth and wine to barely reach surface of sauerkraut. Cover and cook in low oven (325 or so) for 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally and scraping bottom of casserole to get up the good stuff.
- Allow casserole to cool. Throw out outer skin of knuckles or neck and tail bones, as applicable. Add sausages and kielbasa, then return to low oven for 1 hour. Fifteen minutes before serving remove from oven and pour vodka over mixture. Stir well and serve!
makes 6 “generous” portions
John – 2008
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