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
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Bigos, the Traditional Hunter’s Stew, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 17
- Heart Health
- 81
- Metabolic
- 34
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 55
- Performance
- 44
- General Wellness
- 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 16%
- Protein 23.84 g Good Source 48%
- Carbohydrate 15.88 g 6%
- Total Fat 16.39 g High 21%
- Saturated Fat 5.53 g High 28%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 60.83 mg High 20%
- Sodium 1268.27 mg High 55%
- Dietary Fiber 4.85 g Moderate 17%
- Total Sugars 5.19 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 43.08 mg Low Source 3%
- Iron 1.96 mg Moderate 11%
- Potassium 333.78 mg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin A 48.83 mcg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin C 19.45 mg Good Source 22%
- Vitamin D 0.04 mcg Low Source 0%
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.
- Is Bigos, the Traditional Hunter’s Stew healthy?
- Bigos, the Traditional Hunter’s Stew has an easyChef Pro health score of 46/100. Per serving, it provides 314.24 calories and 23.84 g of protein, or 48% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1268.27 mg (55% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 5.53 g (28% of the Daily Value). It contains Wheat, Gluten, Sulfites, Tomatoes, Garlic, Onions and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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