Tochitură Moldovenească (Moldovan Pork and Sausage Stew)
Local name: Tochitură moldovenească
In short: Chunks of pork and smoked sausage browned with onion and garlic, then simmered in white wine until tender, served over hot mămăligă. It takes about 1 h 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 540 kcal
Tochitură is the pork stew that Moldovans cook for gatherings and Sunday lunches, and it is almost always served over mămăligă. Cubes of pork shoulder and smoked sausage are browned hard, then simmered with onion, garlic and white wine until the sauce turns glossy and rich. It is traditionally topped with a fried egg and crumbled cheese, and pickles on the side cut through the richness. A glass of red wine is the usual companion.
Instructions
- Pat the pork dry and season it with the salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a wide heavy pot over high heat and brown the pork in two batches, about 6 minutes per batch. Set it aside.
- In the same pot, brown the sausage slices for 3 to 4 minutes and remove them.
- Lower the heat to medium and cook the onions for 10 minutes, scraping up the browned bits, until golden. Add the garlic, paprika and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the wine and boil for 2 minutes. Return the pork and sausage to the pot with the water, bay leaf and thyme.
- Cover and simmer gently for 50 minutes, until the pork is very tender. Uncover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes more, until the sauce is thick and glossy.
- Stir in the parsley, taste for salt and serve over hot mămăligă, with fried eggs, crumbled cheese and pickles if you like.
Tips
- Brown the meat in batches and let it get properly dark. The browned bits dissolved in the wine are the base of the sauce.
- No white wine? Use the same amount of water plus 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between tochitură and goulash?
Tochitură is a pork and sausage stew with white wine and only a little paprika, served over mămăligă. Goulash is usually built on beef and plenty of paprika.
Can I make tochitură ahead of time?
Yes. It keeps in the fridge for 4 days and freezes for 3 months. Reheat gently with a splash of water.
What do you serve with tochitură?
Hot mămăligă is the classic base, with a fried egg, crumbled brânză and pickled vegetables on the side.
How long does it take to make Tochitură Moldovenească (Moldovan Pork and Sausage Stew)?
About 1 h 50 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tochitură Moldovenească (Moldovan Pork and Sausage Stew)?
About 540 kcal per serving, with 37 g of protein, 7 g of carbohydrates and 40 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 540 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 37 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7 g |
| Fat | 40 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 1200 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
