Romanian Pork and Potato Stew

Name: Romanian Pork and Potato Stew
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Eastern European
Ingredients: 1 pound pork loin, fat trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces; 2 tablespoons lard, or bacon fat, or oil, for frying; 2 large onions, finely chopped; 2 cups water, or stock, plus more as needed; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 tablespoon Vegeta seasoning, or all-purpose seasoning; 1 teaspoon hot or mild paprika; 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste; 1 pound potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes; 1 tablespoon parsley, or dill, for optional garnish; 1 1/4 cups stock, or water; 3/4 teaspoon salt, or Vegeta seasoning; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 1/2 cup coarse yellow cornmeal; 1 tablespoon sour cream, optional; 1 ounce feta cheese or telemea, optional to taste; 1 bunch fresh herbs (such as dill, parsley, or lovage), optional for serving

A traditional Romanian pork and potato stew, known as cartofi cu carne de porc, is a beloved and hearty dish often served with mamaliga.

⭐ 4.9 (18 reviews) Prep: 20 minCook: 60 minTotal: 80 minYields: 4 servings

Category Tags:

Dinner Entree Lunch

Cuisine Tags:

Eastern European

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Ingredients

For The Stew:

1 pound pork loin, fat trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons lard, or bacon fat, or oil, for frying
2 large onions, finely chopped
2 cups water, or stock, plus more as needed
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon Vegeta seasoning, or all-purpose seasoning
1 teaspoon hot or mild paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
1 pound potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 tablespoon parsley, or dill, for optional garnish

For The Mamaliga:

1 1/4 cups stock, or water
3/4 teaspoon salt, or Vegeta seasoning
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 cup coarse yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon sour cream, optional
1 ounce feta cheese or telemea, optional to taste
1 bunch fresh herbs (such as dill, parsley, or lovage), optional for serving

Instructions

Start boiling water or stock in a small saucepan for the mamaliga; once boiling, add salt or Vegeta and butter, then gradually stir in cornmeal continuously.
Simmer the cornmeal mixture over low heat for 35-40 minutes, stirring frequently, until it thickens and pulls from the pot sides; serve hot with optional additions like butter, cheese, herbs, or sour cream, or cool and pan-fry.
For the stew, brown pork in lard, bacon grease, or oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven.
Add onion and sauté until translucent, then cover the meat with water or stock, bring to a boil, and simmer until the pork is almost tender.
Stir in tomato paste, Vegeta, paprika, salt, and pepper, then add the potatoes.
Return the stew to a boil, adding more liquid if needed, then simmer until both pork and potatoes are tender.
Remove from heat, stir in fresh dill or parsley, and serve the stew with the prepared mamaliga.

Nutritional Info (per serving)

Calories: 527 kcal

Carbohydrate: 47 g

Cholesterol: 107 mg

Fiber: 5 g

Protein: 37 g

Saturated Fat: 8 g

Sodium: 788 mg

Sugar: 7 g

Fat: 21 g

Unsaturated Fat: 0 g