The Best Comfort Food You’ve Never Heard Of: How to Make Estonia’s Famous Mulgikapsas Stew

If you’re a person preferring to enjoy some comfort food at home rather than in cafes and restaurants, it’s likely you’ve prepared any kind of stew at least once in your life. However, it’s also likely you’ve never heard of this authentic Estonian stew called mulgikapsas.

The dish combines some unexpected ingredients that many never even considered a match, so don’t hesitate to try and make it at home to bring some new taste to your dinner table.

Here’s what you need: 1 kg of sauerkraut or fresh cabbage, 1 or 1/2 cup of rice, 2 onions, 1–2 bay leaves, 0.5 tsp of salt, 1 tsp of sugar or honey, 400–500 g of bacon (you can use less if you like), 3–4 smoked pork ribs, 1–2 tbsp of vegetable oil.

First, fry the bacon and smoked ribs in a deep skillet or pot until they are golden brown, allowing the fat to melt out and a rich aroma to develop; then add the sauerkraut and heat it gently along with the meat.

Next, pour in water, bring to a boil, and then add the washed rice. Separately, fry the onions until golden brown and add them to the stew along with sugar or honey; if necessary, add a little water and continue simmering until the meat and rice are tender.

At the very end, add a bay leaf and finish cooking the dish over low heat.