Mocănească stew

Mocănească Stew: A Traditional Recipe Full of Flavors and Nostalgia

Imagine a cool day, where the aroma of roasted meat and fresh garlic fills your home, and you prepare to enjoy a traditional dish, full of taste and warmth. Mocănească stew is exactly that kind of food that makes you feel at home, no matter where you are. This rustic dish, with deep roots in culinary tradition, combines meat, smoked sausages, and liver, all slowly cooked in their savory sauce. Come, let’s discover together how to prepare this delicacy, step by step!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Number of servings: 4-6

Ingredients

- 600 g lean pork
- 200 g smoked sausages
- 150 g pork liver
- 350 ml white wine (preferably dry)
- 2 tablespoons of lard (or oil, if you prefer)
- 1 tablespoon of bell pepper paste
- 6 cloves of garlic
- 2 sprigs of thyme
- Salt and ground pepper, to taste
- Hot paprika, to preference

For the polenta

- 400-500 g cornmeal
- 100 g semolina
- 3 liters of water
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of butter (optional, for extra creaminess)

Steps for preparing the stew

1. Preparing the ingredients: Start by cutting the pork into 2-3 cm cubes. Make sure to use quality meat to achieve a juicy dish. Slice the sausages and cut the liver into appropriate pieces. Peel the garlic and crush it using a press or finely chop it with a knife.

2. Cooking the meat: In a cast iron pot, add the lard and heat it well. When hot, add the pork cubes and let them brown, stirring occasionally. This step is essential for achieving a nice crust and sealing in the meat's juices.

3. Adding the sausages: Once the meat is browned, add the slices of smoked sausages and brown them together with the meat for about 5 minutes. Here, the smoky aroma of the sausages will blend with that of the meat, providing a unique flavor.

4. Deglazing: Add the white wine and, if necessary, a little water to cover the meat. This step helps to extract the flavors and juices from the pan, giving a deep taste to the sauce.

5. Boiling the ingredients: Add the crushed garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and hot paprika, to taste. Cover the pot and let everything simmer on low heat for about an hour. This is where the magic happens! The meat will tenderize, and the flavors will meld, creating a rich and delicious sauce.

6. Adding the liver: With 5 minutes left before finishing, add the cut liver and bell pepper paste. These will add a touch of refinement and a distinctive flavor, perfectly complemented by the aromatic sauce.

Preparing the polenta

1. Boiling the water: In a separate pot, bring the 3 liters of water with ½ teaspoon of salt to a boil. It is important that the water is boiling well before adding the cornmeal.

2. Adding the cornmeal: Once the water is boiling, add the cornmeal in a rain, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cooking on low heat for 20 minutes will ensure a creamy and fluffy polenta.

3. Finishing the polenta: After 20 minutes, add the semolina in a rain and, if desired, a tablespoon of butter for a richer texture. Continue to stir and let it boil for another 10 minutes.

Serving the stew

Once the stew is ready, it’s time to assemble the dish. Serve the stew alongside a generous portion of polenta, a fried egg prepared in a non-stick pan, and a sprinkle of grated cheese on top. If you want to add extra flavor, don’t forget the garlic sauce, which pairs perfectly with this rustic dish.

Add pickles for a crunchy and tangy contrast that will balance the richness of the stew. This combination offers a complete culinary experience, full of textures and flavors.

Nutritional benefits

Mocănească stew is a hearty dish, rich in protein due to the meat and liver. Additionally, polenta is a good source of carbohydrates and fiber, providing long-lasting energy. It’s an ideal dish for cold days or when you need an energy boost.

Possible variations

If you want to add a personal touch to the recipe, you can try replacing pork with beef or even chicken. You can also add vegetables like carrots or bell peppers to diversify the dish. Another option would be to replace the polenta with mashed potatoes or polenta.

Frequently asked questions

- Can I use turkey meat? Yes, but the cooking time will need to be adjusted, as turkey meat is leaner.
- How can I make the stew spicier? You can add more hot paprika or even a little fresh or dried chili.
- What other side dishes can I use? Besides polenta, you can try fried potatoes, rice, or a fresh summer salad.

Conclusion

Now that you have all the necessary information, you are ready to bring a touch of tradition to your kitchen with this mocănească stew recipe. Cooking is an art, and every dish you create is a story. So, enjoy every step and savor the final result. Bon appétit!