Potato stew with smoked meat, cooked with care by mrs. Mariana

Today’s invitation carries in its heart the general emotion of reuniting with people who shape characters from an early age, mold human goodness, and instill joy in life through education and upbringing. We find ourselves in Mogoșești commune, at the Herețiu family’s home, a family of teachers who have clearly played a significant role in shaping generations that have sprung from the village’s heart. Educator Mariana shares with us a recipe that is typically made after Epiphany, a simple yet incredibly flavorful dish.

“Tocănița de Cartofi cu Afumătură” (Potato Stew with Smoked Meat) is a staple in Romanian cuisine that combines flavors, tastes, and aromas that are rarely found in any authentic Romanian dish. Before we begin, it’s essential to mention that Mrs. Mariana knows the recipe exactly as it used to be prepared in the old days, a recipe she learned from her host while she was preparing to become a teacher.

Like an almost omnipresent ritual in the making of any dish, we start by sautéing the onions in oil. When they become translucent, add cubed carrots and parsnips. The nobility of the dish is elevated with smoked pork ribs cut into suitable pieces, which will infuse the meal with an unmistakable sweet smoky flavor. Once the flavors have mixed well and permeated enough to lend their taste, add the diced potatoes. Everything is then complemented with water and left to simmer slowly because it’s said that the slower the fire, the tastier the dish. Stir occasionally as the dish mustn’t stand still. Near the end, add sweet paprika, season with salt and pepper, and fine-tune the stew by adding homemade tomato sauce diluted in lukewarm water. Two bay leaves, at the most, perfume the final minutes until the meal is ready.

Served with homemade bread and assorted pickles, the stew loosened our tongues and made us reminisce about childhood times. It’s said that in life, a teacher has three great loves: the love of learning, the love of teaching, and, above all, the love of bringing the first two together. Thank you for teaching us!

Ingredients for a generous pot:

– 2 kg of potatoes

– 1 kg smoked pork ribs

– 2 onions

– 2 carrots

– 1 parsnip

– 2 tablespoons sweet paprika

– 1 cup of oil

– 1 cup homemade tomato sauce

– 2 bay leaves

– Salt/pepper

– 1 bunch of fresh parsley

Preparation:

1. In a large pot, sauté finely chopped onions in oil over low heat. When they become slightly translucent, add the grated (or diced) carrots and parsnip. Mix well, and after it simmers for a bit, add the sweet paprika and the smoked pork ribs cut into pieces.
2. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes, then add the diced potatoes. Mix well and pour in warm water to cover all the ingredients in the pot. Add two bay leaves, cover the pot partially with a lid, and let it simmer over low heat until everything is cooked.
3. Finally, add the homemade tomato sauce and season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle finely chopped fresh parsley on top.
4. Our stew is perfect with pickles on the side.

Enjoy!