Croatian “cobanac” Stew

Submitted by nitko

"“Cobanac” is kind of goulash sheep and cow-boy’s used to eat while watching their herds. You eat it with a spoon, so the pieces inside has to be bite-size. It is traditional meal from Slavonia (eastern part of Croatia)and people from there are very proud of it. They have annual “Cobanac festival” where there is competition in making cobanac. They cook cobanac in large bronze pots on tripod over open fire. Of course, everyone will tell you that their stew is the best one. This is how I do it. (I know someone here on Zaar would be against horse meat, but, if you really want to enjoy the taste, use horse meat.)"

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 50mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Yields: 6 portions
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 300 g beef
• 300 g horse meat
• 600 g onions
• 500 g potatoes
• 1 tablespoon lard
• 150 g pancetta (dried, smoked)
• 15 g porcini mushrooms (dried)
• 1 tablespoon paprika (Hungarian, sweet)
• 1 tablespoon paprika (Hungarian, hot)
• 1 cup wine (white, dry)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon thyme (dried)
• 1 bay leaf
• 10 g salt
• 8 g pepper
• 3 cups water

directions

1. Cut horse and beef meat into small pieces (not larger than 2x2 cm). Do the same with potato.
2. Finely mince onion.
3. Soak dried porcini mushrooms in cold water about 15 minutes, and than cut into small pieces.
4. Cut pancetta into small pieces.
5. Heat the lard and sauté onion until translucent. Add meat and continue to sauté (covered) 20 minutes. At that point meat will start to leave juices.
6. Add paprika, salt, pepper, bay leaf, pancetta and thyme. Stir well and continue to sauté 5 minutes; now add wine, stir and sauté until alcohol evaporates.
7. Add potato and water to cover meat and potato. Add mushrooms. Stir and cook on easy fire about 120 minutes.
8. If you need to add more salt do it, but do not add additional pepper or hot paprika. If you want it hot, do it at the beginning.
9. The stew must be soup-like. You eat it only with spoon. All ingredients must be soft and easy to eat.

Reviews

[Britty]

I found this recipe about four years ago. I make it for my birthday every year. Hoping to make it to Croatia one day as my family immigrated from there. Thank you for sharing!