Main Course📍 All of RomaniaMedium🥛 Dairy-free💪 High-protein

Pork Cauldron with Vegetables

Name: Pork Cauldron with Vegetables
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Romanian
Ingredients: 1.5 kg pork (neck, ribs, or leg), cut into large pieces; 100 g smoked bacon, cubed; 2 tbsp pork lard or oil; 1 kg potatoes, peeled and quartered; 3 large onions, sliced; 3 bell peppers (red, yellow, green), sliced; 2 chili peppers (optional); 4 large tomatoes, peeled and diced (or 400 ml passata); 4 garlic cloves; 1 large carrot, thickly sliced; 1.5 tsp coarse salt; 1 tsp ground black pepper; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 1/2 tsp hot paprika; 1 tsp dried thyme; 2 bay leaves; 1 tsp dried rosemary; 200 ml dry red wine; 200 ml bone broth or water; 2 tbsp tomato paste; warm polenta; homemade bread; assorted pickles; fresh chili peppers and green garlic

Pork cauldron with vegetables is one of the most beloved Romanian outdoor dishes, cooked over a wood fire. Tender pieces of pork are slowly browned in a cast-iron cauldron alongside potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, and onions, absorbing the aromas of wood smoke and spices. The result is a rustic, hearty, and unforgettable dish — perfect for family gatherings and summer cookouts.

🍽️

Servings

⏱️

Prep

30 min

🔥

Cook

90 min

⏰

Total

120 min

🥘Ingredients

servings

Meat

Vegetables

Spices and liquid

For serving

📝Preparation steps 🗓️Add to Meal Planner🎨Serving & Presentation

✅Dietary Compatibility

🥛Dairy-free💪High-protein

🍽️

Yield

approx. 2.5 kg cooked dish

📦Storage

❄️

Refrigerator

Up to 3 days in a covered container

🧊

Freezer

Up to 2 months (without potatoes — they fall apart when thawed)

🥗Nutrition Facts

Values per serving (approx. 300g)

🔥

Calories

380 kcal

🥩

Protein

26 g

🧈

Fat

22 g

🍞

Carbohydrates

20 g

🌾

Fiber

3 g

🍷Pairs Well With

🥂Soft warm polenta

🥂Homemade bread grilled over embers

🥂Assorted pickles

🥂Fresh or roasted chili peppers

🥂Robust red wine (Feteasca Neagra, Merlot)

💡Variations

Add 200g sliced mushrooms halfway through cooking for a heartier version.

Replace some of the meat with smoked pork ribs for a deeper, smokier flavor.

Add 2 tbsp of thick sour cream at the end for a creamier sauce.