French-Style Pork Stew

By MooK

Ingredients

• 6 parsley sprigs, plus 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 large sprigs fresh thyme
• 5 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 2 whole cloves
• 5 cups water
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 3 pounds boneless pork butt roast, trimmed and cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 meaty smoked ham shank or 2 to 3 smoked ham hocks (1 1/4 pounds)
• 2 onions, halved through root end, root end left intact
• 4 carrots, peeled, narrow end cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces, wide end halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 12 ounces kielbasa sausage, halved lengthwise and then cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 1/2 head savoy cabbage, shredded (8 cups)

Preparation

Step 1

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Cut 10-inch square of triple-thickness cheesecloth. Place parsley sprigs (fold or break to fit), thyme sprigs, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and cloves in center of cheesecloth and tie into bundle with kitchen twine.

2. Bring water, broth, pork, ham, onions, and herb bundle to simmer in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, skimming off scum that rises to surface. Cover pot and place in oven. Cook until pork chunks are tender and skewer inserted in meat meets little resistance, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.

3. Using slotted spoon, discard onions and herb bundle. Transfer ham to plate. Add carrots and potatoes to pot and stir to combine. Cover pot and return to oven. Cook until vegetables are almost tender, 20 to 25 minutes. When ham is cool enough to handle, using 2 forks, remove meat and shred into bite-size pieces; discard skin and bones.

4. Add shredded ham, kielbasa, and cabbage to pot. Stir to combine, cover, and return to oven. Cook until kielbasa is heated through and cabbage is wilted and tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then stir in chopped parsley. Ladle into bowls and serve. (Stew can be made up to 3 days in advance.)