Bigos

Name: Bigos
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 150 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 lb sauerkraut, drained and rinsed; 1 lb fresh green cabbage, shredded; 1 lb pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes; 1/2 lb smoked kielbasa, sliced; 1/2 lb bacon, chopped; 1 large onion, chopped; 2 oz dried mushrooms, soaked; 1 cup beef broth; 1/2 cup dry red wine or extra broth; 1/2 cup prunes, chopped; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 1 bay leaf; 5 juniper berries, crushed; Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Bigos, the Polish hunter’s stew, is a slow-cooked tangle of sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, and an assortment of meats that improves with every reheating.

⏱ 30 minPrep time

🔥 2 hr 30 minCook time

🍽 8Servings

🏷 DinnerCategory

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Bigos, the legendary Polish hunter’s stew, is a slow-simmered tangle of sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, and every kind of meat the pantry offers — pork, sausage, bacon, and game if you have it. Smoky, tangy, and faintly sweet from prunes, it improves with every reheating.

In Poland, bigos is often made in a huge pot and nursed for days, with each warming deepening its flavor. It’s the traditional centerpiece of hunting lodges and long winter weekends, best enjoyed with dark rye bread and a cold beer.

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Step by stepInstructions

In a large Dutch oven, cook the bacon until crisp, then brown the pork cubes in the rendered fat in batches; set aside.
Add the onion and cook until soft. Stir in the tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
Add the sauerkraut, cabbage, soaked mushrooms with their strained soaking liquid, broth, wine, bay leaf, juniper berries, and the browned pork. Bring to a simmer.
Cover and simmer gently for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Add the kielbasa and prunes, then simmer uncovered for 30 more minutes until thick and glossy.
Season with salt and pepper. For the best flavor, cool, refrigerate overnight, and reheat the next day.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Bigos is a 'next-day dish' by nature — reheating melds the flavors like nothing else can. Freeze leftovers in portions; it keeps for months.

Recipe details

Prep30 min

Cook2 hr 30 min

Servings8

CategoryDinner

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Bigos

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Bigos

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