How to Cook German Pork Stew With Pickled Cucumber

Serves: 8-10

Preparation time: 30 mins

Cooking time: 1 ½ hours

Ingredients needed to make German Pork Stew With Pickled Cucumber:

For the stew:

• 4 lb pork steak, diced
• 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
• 3 medium tomatoes, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp tomato puree
• 3 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 1 ½ oz lard
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For the pickle:

• 1 whole cucumber, peeled
• 2 fl oz red wine vinegar
• 4 stem ginger in sugar syrup, thinly sliced
• 3’’ fresh root ginger, grated
• 2 oz sugar
• 1 tsp salt

Cooking instructions for German Pork Stew With Pickled Cucumber:

• To make the pickled cucumber, peel the cucumber into thin ribbons and place them in a large bowl.
• Season it with salt and toss well to mix; set aside for about 10 minutes and then wash it off with cold water.
• Transfer it to a colander to drain off any excess liquid and return it to the bowl.
• Toss the vinegar, gingers and sugar together and stir it into the cucumber.
• Toss further to mix well and transfer it to an air-tight container.
• Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight and use when required.
• To make the stew, add the lard in a frying pan, equipped with a lid, and melt it over moderate heat.
• Throw in the onions and saute them for about 5 minutes, or until they soften, while stirring often.
• Sprinkle the paprika over them and give it a nice stir to mix.
• Dump the pork cubes into the pan, along with a splash of water and stir them all together to mix well.
• Reduce the heat and bring the mixture to a simmer; continue to do so for about 5 minutes.
• Pour boiling water into the mixture, so that the meat remains submerged in it.
• Continue to cook the mixture until it begins to boil and stir in the tomatoes as well as the green pepper slices.
• Whisk in the tomato puree and sprinkle the salt as well as ground black pepper to taste.
• Place the lid on top and cook the mixture over slow flame for an hour or until the pork is cooked through.
• Add 2 tbsp of water into a small bowl and stir in cornflour until it dissolves and forms a smooth paste.
• Whisk it into the stew and bring it back to a boil until it thickens.
• Adjust the seasonings if required and cook for the last couple of minutes.
• Enjoy it with crusty bread and pickled cucumber.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Last Updated on January 8, 2013 by