A traditional Moldovan pork stew called Tochitura Moldoveneasca is made with tender pork, smoked sausage, and fragrant spices. This hearty dish is a celebration of the flavors of Moldova and is great to share with friends and family.
Ingredients: - 1 lb pork belly, cubed. - 1 lb pork shoulder, cubed. - 1/2 lb smoked sausage, sliced. - 1 large onion, finely chopped. - 3 cloves garlic, minced. - 2 bell peppers, diced. - 2 tomatoes, chopped. - 1/2 cup tomato paste. - 1/2 cup white wine. - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika. - 1 teaspoon sweet paprika. - 1 bay leaf. - Salt and black pepper to taste. - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish. - Vegetable oil for cooking.
Instructions: Put vegetable oil in a large pot and heat it over medium-high heat. Put in the pork belly and shoulder cubes. Make sure all sides of the meat are brown. Take out most of the oil, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pot. Cut up some onions and garlic and add them. Saut until the meat is soft. The smoked sausage slices, bell pepper dices, and tomato chunks should all be mixed in. After a few minutes, the vegetables should be soft. Put in the bay leaf, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and sweet paprika. Combine well by mixing. Add the white wine and let it cook for a few minutes so that the liquid gets a little thinner. Add the browned pork back to the pot and make sure everything is well mixed. Put the lid on top of the pot and cook on low heat for about an hour and a half to two hours, or until the pork is soft. If you need to, change the seasoning and take out the bay leaf. Tochitura Moldoveneasca should be served hot, with chopped fresh parsley on top. Serve this tasty Moldovan pork stew with polenta or a piece of crusty bread.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 120 minutes
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