Pork Stew Ardeleneasca (Transylvanian Pork Stew)

Ingredients

• 1 kg pork loin / ham / shoulder
• 3 onions
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 tablespoon concentrated tomato paste
• 250ml tomato sauce / broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• salt
• pepper
• oil
• water
• parsley

Instructions

1. 1Finely chop the onion.
2. 2Chop the garlic.
3. 3Cut the pork into cubes of about 2 cm.
4. 4Heat a little oil in a saucepan. When hot, add 1 teaspoon of cumin and cook for one minute.
5. 5Add the pork and cook for about 10 minutes, until it changes color. Remove from the pan and set aside.
6. 6Reduce heat to medium and saute the onion for about 7 minutes, or until soft and translucent.
7. 7Add garlic and cook for one minute, until fragrant.
8. 8Add the pork back to the saucepan.
9. 9Add a tablespoon of sweet paprika, and 2 bay leaves. Add salt and pepper to taste.
10. 10Pour in the tomato sauce and enough water to cover the meat. Add tomato paste and stir well to combine.
11. 11Bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 1 hour.
12. 12Remove the lid and cook on medium to low heat for 15-20 minutes or until the sauce reduces to desired consistency and the pork is fully cooked.
13. 13Add a handful of chopped fresh parsley. Serve hot.