Viking Stew
This Viking stew, made with meat, berries, mushrooms, plenty of fresh herbs, and root vegetables typically available to the Vikings, is a seemingly primitive dish with a remarkably sophisticated flavor. It works with any meat, so if you cannot hunt for wild boar, do not be dismayed—you can still make it!
Ingredients:
- 4 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder roast, cut into 2- to 3-inch chunks
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup fresh blackberries, or other fresh berries
- 2 tablespoons lingonberry jam
- 6 cups cold water
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 yellow onion, cut into large dice
- 2 leeks, washed thoroughly, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 10 large brown mushrooms, halved
- 1 small green cabbage, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 fennel bulbs, halved and cut into 1/4-inch strips
- 1/4 cup torn cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
Direction
- Add pork to a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add salt, honey, berries, lingonberry jam, and cold water, and turn the heat to high.
- While stew is coming to a boil, add garlic, dry thyme, and ground coriander. When mixture comes to a rolling boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in onion, leeks, and mushrooms, and simmer until meat is almost, but not quite fork tender, about 45 minutes more.
- Stir in cabbage, carrots, and fennel; continue to simmer until vegetables and meat are very tender, about 30 minutes.
- Season to taste with salt. Serve with fresh herbs scattered over the top.