Potée (French Meat and Vegetable Stew)

The region of Savoie lies in the frosty heart of the French Alps, and it is here that French mountain cooking thrives, producing a wealth of rich dishes like this one. When cooking this delicious stew at home you'll need a 24-quart stockpot.

  • Serves

    serves 10

Ingredients

  • 1 (3-lb.) pork shoulder, rolled and tied
  • 2 smoked ham hocks
  • 3 lb. smoked kielbasa
  • 6 medium onions, peeled, each studded with 1 clove
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled
  • Coarse salt
  • 5 black peppercorns
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 6 leeks, washed and trimmed
  • 10 whole carrots, peeled
  • 10 small turnips, scrubbed
  • 4 smoked pork sausages
  • 10 small potatoes, scrubbed
  • 1 head green cabbage, cored and quartered
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Step 1

Place pork, ham hocks, kielbasa, 1 of the onions, garlic, 1 tsp. salt, peppercorns, and bay leaves in a large, heavy pot with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and gently simmer for 2 hours, skimming fat and foam.

Step 2

Add remaining 5 onions, leeks, carrots, turnips, sausages, and potatoes, and bring to a simmer. Cook over medium-low heat until vegetables are almost tender, about 30 minutes. Add cabbage; cook 10 minutes more.

Step 3

Remove meat and vegetables and keep warm in a low oven. Reduce stock over high heat for 10 minutes. Adjust seasoning.

Step 4

Slice meat and sausages and place in the center of a deep platter; surround with vegetables. Ladle some broth over the dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve with remaining broth and toasted bread.
  1. Place pork, ham hocks, kielbasa, 1 of the onions, garlic, 1 tsp. salt, peppercorns, and bay leaves in a large, heavy pot with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and gently simmer for 2 hours, skimming fat and foam.
  2. Add remaining 5 onions, leeks, carrots, turnips, sausages, and potatoes, and bring to a simmer. Cook over medium-low heat until vegetables are almost tender, about 30 minutes. Add cabbage; cook 10 minutes more.
  3. Remove meat and vegetables and keep warm in a low oven. Reduce stock over high heat for 10 minutes. Adjust seasoning.
  4. Slice meat and sausages and place in the center of a deep platter; surround with vegetables. Ladle some broth over the dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve with remaining broth and toasted bread.
Recipes

Potée (French Meat and Vegetable Stew)

  • Serves

    serves 10

CHRISTOPHER HIRSHEIMER

The region of Savoie lies in the frosty heart of the French Alps, and it is here that French mountain cooking thrives, producing a wealth of rich dishes like this one. When cooking this delicious stew at home you'll need a 24-quart stockpot.

Ingredients

  • 1 (3-lb.) pork shoulder, rolled and tied
  • 2 smoked ham hocks
  • 3 lb. smoked kielbasa
  • 6 medium onions, peeled, each studded with 1 clove
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled
  • Coarse salt
  • 5 black peppercorns
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 6 leeks, washed and trimmed
  • 10 whole carrots, peeled
  • 10 small turnips, scrubbed
  • 4 smoked pork sausages
  • 10 small potatoes, scrubbed
  • 1 head green cabbage, cored and quartered
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Step 1

Place pork, ham hocks, kielbasa, 1 of the onions, garlic, 1 tsp. salt, peppercorns, and bay leaves in a large, heavy pot with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and gently simmer for 2 hours, skimming fat and foam.

Step 2

Add remaining 5 onions, leeks, carrots, turnips, sausages, and potatoes, and bring to a simmer. Cook over medium-low heat until vegetables are almost tender, about 30 minutes. Add cabbage; cook 10 minutes more.

Step 3

Remove meat and vegetables and keep warm in a low oven. Reduce stock over high heat for 10 minutes. Adjust seasoning.

Step 4

Slice meat and sausages and place in the center of a deep platter; surround with vegetables. Ladle some broth over the dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve with remaining broth and toasted bread.
  1. Place pork, ham hocks, kielbasa, 1 of the onions, garlic, 1 tsp. salt, peppercorns, and bay leaves in a large, heavy pot with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and gently simmer for 2 hours, skimming fat and foam.
  2. Add remaining 5 onions, leeks, carrots, turnips, sausages, and potatoes, and bring to a simmer. Cook over medium-low heat until vegetables are almost tender, about 30 minutes. Add cabbage; cook 10 minutes more.
  3. Remove meat and vegetables and keep warm in a low oven. Reduce stock over high heat for 10 minutes. Adjust seasoning.
  4. Slice meat and sausages and place in the center of a deep platter; surround with vegetables. Ladle some broth over the dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve with remaining broth and toasted bread.

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