• Capital: Ljubljana
• Population: about 2.1 millions
• Area: 20 273 km²
• Currency: Euro

For my Slovenian recipe I made Jota. Jota is a soup like dish with sauerkraut, potatoes, bacon and some sort of pork meat. All these ingredients are stewed together with beans. Good meal for a cold winter night!

Jota

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup red kidney beans
• 2 cups sauerkraut
• 1 onion
• 1 large russet potato
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 3 cloves garlic
• 6 slices of bacon
• 1 pork shank or 8 ounces ham or 8 ounces pork spareribs

Directions:

The night before, rinse and then soak the beans in cold water. Let them soak overnight.

The next day, rinse the beans and put them in a pot covering them with cold water. Put on high heat and bring to a boil. Boil on high heat for 10 minutes, reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 45 minutes or until beans are tender. Once done, drain and reserve.

In the meantime, prepare all your ingredients. Measure the broth. Measure and rinse the sauerkraut. Finely chop the onion and the garlic. Peel and cut the potato in 1 to 2 inches cubes. Cut 3 pieces of bacon in 1/2 strips and reserve the 3 others. If using ham cut it in 1 inch cubes.

Once your ingredients are ready heat a large pot on medium high heat. Add the 3 pieces of cut bacon and cook until there is some fat in the bottom of the pot. Add the onions and a couple pinches of salt and cook until the onions are translucent. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 more minute.

After 1 minute, add the broth, sauerkraut, bay leaf, potato, pork meat and the 3 uncut pieces of bacon. Stir well, bring to a boil, and reduce the heat to low. Let simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. The liquid should become thick.

After 20 minutes, remove the pieces of pork and cut them in 1 inch cubes (if not using ham). Add the meat back in and add the beans. Cook on medium heat for 2 minute or until beans are hot. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve!

Dober tek!