Bigos (Polish Hunter’s Stew)

Ingredients (20)

• 1 ounce dried porcini or other wild mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons bacon fat or vegetable oil
• 2 pounds pork shoulder
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 head cabbage (regular, not savoy or red), chopped
• 1 1/2 pounds mixed fresh mushrooms
• 1 to 2 pounds kielbasa or other smoked sausage
• 1 smoked ham hock
• 1 pound fresh Polish sausage, optional
• 1 25-ounce jar fresh sauerkraut (we recommend Bubbies, which you may be able to find in the refrigerated section of your local supermarket)
• 1 bottle pilsner or lager beer
• 1 tablespoon juniper berries, optional
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
• 2 tablespoons dried marjoram
• Salt
• 20 prunes, sliced in half, optional
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste, optional
• 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce, optional
• 1 to 2 tablespoons mustard or horseradish, optional