Bigos (Hunters Stew)
A satisfying Polish pork built around bacon, kielbasa and pork — roughly 115 minutes start to finish, and rated involved to make. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 16 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.

You'll mainly reach for oven and frying pan / skillet. At involved difficulty across 16 steps, it's worth setting aside proper time for.
What you'll need
Shopping list (13)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: contains meat, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Fish
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Heat a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the bacon and kielbasa; cook and stir until the bacon has rendered its fat and sausage is lightly browned.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat and transfer to a large casserole or Dutch oven.
- Coat the cubes of pork lightly with flour and fry them in the bacon drippings over medium-high heat until golden brown.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork to the casserole.
- Add the garlic, onion, carrots, fresh mushrooms, cabbage and sauerkraut.
- Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir until the carrots are soft, about 10 minutes.
- Do not let the vegetables brown.
- Deglaze the pan by pouring in the red wine and stirring to loosen all of the bits of food and flour that are stuck to the bottom.
- Season with the bay leaf, basil, marjoram, paprika, salt, pepper, caraway seeds and cayenne pepper; cook for 1 minute.
- Mix in the dried mushrooms, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, tomato paste and tomatoes.
- Heat through just until boiling.
- Pour the vegetables and all of the liquid into the casserole dish with the meat.
- Cover with a lid.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until meat is very tender.
You'll use: Oven · Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Large pot · Saucepan
Watch how it's made

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Ingredient substitutions
- Red Wine
- beef stock + 1 tsp red wine vinegar · grape juice + vinegar
What to serve with Bigos (Hunters Stew)
Tips & common questions
How long does Bigos (Hunters Stew) take to make?
About 115 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 16 steps and 20 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of red wine?
Try beef stock + 1 tsp red wine vinegar. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Structured source recipe — not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Recipe data for Bigos (Hunters Stew) via TheMealDB (open database). ▶ Video. Original source. Consomee adds the scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.







