Pork Stew with ham and pickles (Hentestokány)
This is not your typical pork stew
One of the most famous Hungarian restaurant dishes is the pork stew with ham and pickles (Hentestokány – butcher’s stew), which contains gherkins in a way that is still unimaginably bizarre to me. But the point is simple: instead of an acidifying additive, the pork is accompanied by cucumbers, and the end result is a very, very lovable everyday dish. It doesn’t take too much work, doesn’t take very long to cook, and can be served with any side dish, from rice to pasta.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of lard
- 150 g sliced bacon
- 1 onion
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 100 ml dry white wine
- 700 g pork butt or leg
- 150 g ham
- 150 g gherkin
- 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
- salt
Steps:
- Heat lard or oil and fry bacon until melted and crisp.
- Add a finely chopped onion and sliced garlic and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
- Pour in wine and let the alcohol boil down.
- Cut the meat into strips. Add to the fried onion and cook until it turns a white color.
- Add tomato paste and about 100 ml of water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook over low heat for 30 minutes. Add water if necessary.
- Add the – stripped – ham and gherkin. Cook for another 30 minutes. Serve with cooked rice and enjoy the meal!
Watch our video about this special pork stew recipe: