Main Course📍 OlteniaEasy🌾 Gluten-free🥛 Dairy-free🥩 Low-carb / Keto💪 High-protein🥦 Clean eating🫒 Mediterranean

Romanian Pork in Garlic Tomato Sauce

Name: Romanian Pork in Garlic Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 95 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Romanian
Ingredients: 1 kg pork (shoulder or neck), cut into medium pieces; 8–10 garlic cloves, crushed or sliced; 400 g peeled and chopped tomatoes (or 250 ml homemade tomato purée); 2–3 tbsp wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar); 150 ml water or bone broth; 3 tbsp pork lard or oil; 2 bay leaves; ½ tsp ground black pepper; salt to taste; 4–5 fresh garlic cloves, crushed; 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped

Ostropel de porc is a traditional dish from Oltenia and Muntenia, made from fried pork pieces cooked in a rich tomato sauce with garlic and vinegar. The sweet-sour sauce and tender meat make ostropel a rustic and flavorful dish, classically served with warm polenta.

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Servings

⏱️

Prep

15 min

🔥

Cook

80 min

⏰

Total

95 min

🥘Ingredients

servings

Meat and base

Finishing

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

✅Dietary Compatibility

🌾Gluten-free🥛Dairy-free🥩Low-carb / Keto💪High-protein🥦Clean eating🫒Mediterranean

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Yield

approx. 4 servings

📦Storage

❄️

Refrigerator

Up to 4 days in a sealed container — the flavor improves the next day

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Freezer

Up to 3 months — thaw in the refrigerator, reheat on low heat

🥗Nutrition Facts

Values per serving (approx. 300 g meat with sauce)

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Calories

400 kcal

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Protein

30 g

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Fat

25 g

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Carbohydrates

12 g

🌾

Fiber

2 g

🍷Pairs Well With

🥂Warm polenta

🥂Oltenian pickles

🥂Homemade bread

🥂Dry red wine (Fetească Neagră, Cabernet Sauvignon)

💡Variations

Make chicken ostropel instead — use bone-in chicken thighs and reduce cooking time to 35–40 minutes.

Add 1 tsp smoked paprika together with the garlic for a more intense smoky note.

Add a few pitted black olives in the last 10 minutes for a more Mediterranean version.