Bigos, the Traditional Hunter’s Stew
Bigos, the Traditional Hunter’s Stew layers smoky bacon, kielbasa, and tender pork with cabbage and tangy sauerkraut, then simmers it all with mushrooms, tomatoes, and fragrant spices. The result is a rich, hearty bowl with mellow sour notes and deep, meaty warmth—perfect for a cozy dinner, cold-weather gatherings, or next-day leftovers when the flavors deepen even more.
- Prep45 mins
- Cook3 hrs
- Serves10
- DifficultyMedium
- 1
Gather the ingredients.
- 2
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- 3
Place a large pot over medium heat. Add the kielbasa and bacon; cook and stir until the bacon has released its fat and the sausage is lightly browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat and transfer it to a large casserole or Dutch oven.
- 4
Lightly coat the pork cubes with flour and fry them in the bacon drippings over medium-high heat until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to move the pork to the casserole. Add the cabbage, carrots, onion, fresh mushrooms, and garlic. Add the sauerkraut. Reduce the heat to medium; cook and stir until the carrots are soft, about 10 minutes. Do not let the vegetables brown.
- 5
Deglaze the pan by pouring in the red wine and stirring to loosen any bits of food and flour stuck to the bottom. Season with the bay leaf, paprika, basil, marjoram, salt, pepper, caraway seed, and cayenne; cook for 1 minute.
- 6
Stir in the beef stock, tomatoes, dried mushrooms, tomato paste, hot pepper sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Heat just until boiling. Pour the vegetables and all the liquid into the casserole with the meat. Cover with a lid.
- 7
Bake in the preheated oven until the meat is very tender, 2½ to 3 hours.
- Calories 314.24 kcal Moderate
- Protein 23.84 g Good Source
- Carbs 15.88 g Moderate
- Total Fat 16.39 g High
- Saturated Fat 5.53 g High
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source
- Cholesterol 60.83 mg High
- Sodium 1262.31 mg High
- Fiber 4.85 g Moderate
- Sugar 5.19 g Moderate
- Added Sugar 0.0 g Low Source
- Calcium 50.57 mg Low Source
- Iron 2.04 mg Moderate
- Potassium 320.75 mg Low Source
- Vitamin A 128.6 mcg_rae Moderate
- Vitamin C 23.33 mg Good Source
- Vitamin D 0.13 mcg Low Source
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Sulfites
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Bigos, the Traditional Hunter's Stew is a German dinner recipe made with 25 ingredients. It takes about 3 hrs 45 mins, serves 10, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Beef Stock, Black Pepper, and Caraway Seed. Each serving provides about 314.24 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Bigos, the Traditional Hunter’s Stew?
- It is a German stew recipe made with 25 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch or soup.
- What is Bigos, the Traditional Hunter’s Stew made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Beef Stock, Black Pepper, Caraway Seed, Cayenne Pepper. The full list of 25 is above.
- What goes well with Bigos, the Traditional Hunter’s Stew?
- Explore these German side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Bigos, the Traditional Hunter’s Stew?
- About 3 hrs 45 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 3 hrs to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 314.24 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Bigos, the Traditional Hunter’s Stew easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 25 ingredients and 7 steps.
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