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Svinsko s kiselo zele
Pork baked with sauerkraut
Свинско с кисело зеле: Bulgarian Christmas Day pork baked with sauerkraut
After the forty-day Advent fast and the meatless Christmas Eve, Bulgarians break the fast on Christmas Day with pork, and the classic dish is svinsko s kiselo zele: pork shoulder baked slowly with homemade sauerkraut, rice, paprika and bay in a clay pot until the cabbage turns soft and golden. It fills the house with a sour, savoury smell and tastes even better the next day. Chef's tip: rinse the sauerkraut if it is very sour, but keep some brine; a little sharpness is what balances the rich pork.
- Total time
- 150 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 2 ⅝ lb pork shouldercut into 4 cm chunks
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 2 ¼ lb sauerkrautsqueezed, roughly chopped
- 2 ⅞ oz long-grain rice (optional)optional
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- ½ tsp chilli flakes
- 1 ¾ cups hot water
- ½ tsp saltto taste
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). Brown 2 ⅝ lb pork shoulder in 3 tbsp sunflower oil in batches in a flameproof casserole or clay pot over a high heat, about 8 minutes. Lift out.
10 minStep 2: Fry 1 onion in the same fat for 5 minutes, then stir in 2 tsp sweet paprika and ½ tsp chilli flakes for 30 seconds off the heat.
5 minStep 3: Mix in 2 ¼ lb sauerkraut and 2 ⅞ oz long-grain rice (if using), then nestle the pork into it with 3 bay leaves and 10 black peppercorns. Pour over 1 ¾ cups hot water.
Step 4: Cover and bake for 1½ hours, then uncover and bake for 20–30 minutes more, until the pork is tender enough to cut with a spoon, the top is golden and most of the liquid has gone. The pork should be well above 160°F.
110 minStep 5: Taste for salt: sauerkraut is salty, so add ½ tsp salt only if needed. A common mistake is salting at the start. Rest for 10 minutes and serve with bread.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 34 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 33 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does svinsko s kiselo zele take?
- About 150 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 130 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of sweet paprika?
- Smoked paprika, half the amount.
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