Bigos is a traditional dish of Polish cuisine, regularly prepared for hundreds of years. Every family prides itself on their own, original recipe for this tasty dish made of cabbage and meat. However, foreign bigos lovers often struggle to find all the necessary ingredients. Despite this, they manage as best they can. A YouTuber of Polish-Japanese descent, living in the Land of the Rising Sun, shared his experience of cooking bigos.
A Japanese Man Tried Bigos for the First Time. His Grandson Recorded His Reaction
Gabriel Hyodo is a well-known YouTuber who showcases life in Japan in his videos. In one of his recent videos, he shared his experience of cooking bigos. The task wasn't easy, as some ingredients were hard to find. Despite this, Gabriel managed to cook an aromatic dish, which he shared with his grandfather.
The YouTuber first went to a Japanese market to buy the ingredients for bigos. He bought mushrooms, onions, powdered allspice, bacon, dried plums, sausage, bay leaves, pork, and beef. The biggest challenge was obtaining sauerkraut, which he managed to import to Japan directly from Germany. It was exceptionally sour—just as it should be.
Although the ingredients were not typically Polish, Gabriel successfully cooked a deliciously smelling bigos
He served it to his grandfather, who had never tried this dish before, so Gabriel was curious if he would like it. The senior's reaction, however, was just as Polish internet users expected. Gabriel's grandfather was delighted with the bigos. He said the dish was "delicious" and that he had "never eaten such a good meal." The plate was emptied in no time.
What Are the Best Additions to Bigos? The exceptional taste of bigos is due to high-quality sauerkraut and the right spices. The dish must include bay leaves, pepper, and allspice. Some people also add juniper berries, caraway seeds, and marjoram. It's also hard to imagine bigos without forest mushrooms, with porcini and boletes being the best choices. Another popular addition is dried plums, which slightly reduce the sour taste, giving the dish a delicate sweetness. Depending on the recipe, bigos may also include dried apricots, apples, and onions, as well as alcohol, such as red wine.
