Warm your soul and nourish your body with this German hunter cabbage stew, aka Jägerkohl. Slowly simmered ground beef, bacon, kielbasa, and onions with cabbage and potatoes is a hearty, tasty comfort dish the whole family loves.
This cabbage stew recipe is part of the Ruhr district (urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and also the name of the river that flows through the region) as the collard greens are of the South.
📃 Why it Works
- Convenient
- Healthy-ish
- Simple to make
- Substantial
- Packed with flavor
- Feeds a crowd
- A great winter dish
Don't just wait for winter! Start making this delicious dish part of your regular meal rotation.
I ate many cabbage dishes in the six years of my living in Germany. Hunter stew, as the name suggests, was traditionally served during the hunting season and using various wild game but today is enjoyed year-round.
The recipe has many adaptations, so if you don't like venison, you can basically use whatever domestic meat you have on hand.
This healthy vegetable is popular in the winter season, and this particular Jägerkohl recipe is close to my heart, for I learned how to make it from my late German ex-mother-in-law.
Back to the Eintopf (stew) recipe...
🛒 Ingredients and Notes
These ingredients make for a delicious, substantial gluten-free meal the whole family loves.
- Cabbage - A small head of cabbage coarsely chopped or sliced. Remove the outer leaves and discard the core.
- Meats - Ground beef, kielbasa (or any smoked sausage), and bacon. You can also use a mix of beef and pork or use ground chicken for a healthier option, with less fat.
- Aromatics - Onion, chopped. Onions give such a pleasing aroma to every dish!
- Spices - Caraway seeds (optional). They add an earthy flavor, with a mild hint of anise.
- Seasonings - salt and pepper, to taste.
- Fat - Vegetable or olive oil. Plus, there will be bacon fat too.
- Liquid - Beef broth. I go for the low sodium or no added sodium. You can use water instead as well but adjust the seasonings as necessary.
WHAT IS KIELBASA?
Kielbasa is a Polish-style smoked meat sausage. In the US, it is typically referred to as a U-shaped smoked sausage similar to the Wiejska sausage in the UK.
🔪 Instructions
*Details and the printable recipe are available at the bottom of this post.
- Brown the meats - Brown the bacon, kielbasa, and onion and then add ground beef and cook until no longer pink.
- Add the vegetables - Add cabbage, potatoes, salt, pepper, and caraway. Stir in the beef broth and cover with a lid.
- Cook the stew - Slowly simmer the stew for 30 minutes or until cabbage is cooked through.
- Kielbasa is a Polish-style smoked sausage but you can use any smoked sausage available at your location.
- Remove the outer leaves and discard the core of the cabbage before chopping or slicing.
- You can use a mix of beef and pork or use ground chicken for a healthier, less fat option.
- Using caraway seeds is optional, but they and cabbage are meant to be together.
- Use the low sodium or no added sodium beef or vegetable broth. Replace with water if you wish, but adjust the salt and pepper.
- Serve with crusty bread to scoop up all the yummy juices.
- This stew tastes even better the next day.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
This stew also works great in the slow cooker. Just add the browned meats and all of the other ingredients. Let it cook on low for 3-4 hours or until the vegetables are tender.
When short on time, make this favorite German stew in an instant pot.
Brown the meats (as in recipe steps 1 & 2 below) using Sauté setting on your instant pot.
Add the remaining ingredients (as in recipe steps 3 & 4) and cancel the Sauté setting.
Close the lid and turn the venting knob to the sealing position.
Change the setting to Manual and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
Do a quick release or allow the pressure to release naturally.
This stew is an easy freezer meal. To freeze this stew, chill it thoroughly in the refrigerator first, divide it into single-serving portions, and transfer it to the freezer for up to three months.
Properly stored, this soup will last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Keep leftovers in an airtight container.
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Liked this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section. Your feedback is always appreciated! Stay in touch through Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for my email list below too!
Jägerkohl - German Hunter Cabbage Stew
EQUIPMENT
- Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan
- Knifes
- chopping board
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 4 bacon strips, sliced into ½-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
- ½ pound kielbasa, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef or a mix of beef and pork
- 2- pound head cabbage, coarsely chopped
- 1 pound potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 ½ cup beef or vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds, optional
- Salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat.
- Add 4 strips of sliced bacon, ½ pound sliced kielbasa, and 1 chopped onion. Sauté until lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes. Add 1 pound of ground beef and cook until the meat is no longer pink.
- Toss in the chopped 2-pound head cabbage and 1 pound peeled and diced potato. Season the meat mixture with salt and pepper to taste and 1 teaspoon caraway seeds, if using. Stir well to combine scraping up the browned bits in the bottom of the pan.
- Add 1 ½ cup stock, cover, and let simmer until cabbage is tender, about 30-40 minutes.
- Serve with crusty bread.
Video
Notes
- Kielbasa is a Polish-style smoked sausage but you can use any smoked sausage available at your location.
- Remove the outer leaves and discard the core of the cabbage before chopping or slicing.
- You can use a mix of beef and pork or use ground chicken for a healthier, less fat option.
- Using caraway seeds is optional, but they and cabbage are meant to be together.
- Use the low sodium or no added sodium beef or vegetable broth. Replace with water if you wish, but adjust the salt and pepper.
- Serve with crusty bread to scoop up all the yummy juices.
- This stew tastes even better the next day.
Ron says
We love driving through the Ruhr district on our trips down Mosel lane. An absolutely wonderful looking stew. I love the caraway seed addition. We have some moose mince in the freezer I'll be trying with this.
Your video was great. I loved the bread dipping scene. Was that bread light rye with caraway seeds in it?
Jas says
Thanks for your kind feedback, Ron! Ruhr area is so picturesque and although I'm biased to Germany, we love the scenery in Austria even more. If you ever have the chance, visit Hallstadt.
Yes, the bread was with caraway seeds in it and it was delicious! I can imagine moose mince would intensify the flavor of the stew. Yum! Keep me posted. 😀
FrugalHausfrau says
My Mom made something like this too, sometimes with sauerkraut but usually with cabbage. Sometimes with pork chops or sausage or both!! You've been coming up with some fab recipes lately, like this and let's not forget that lasagna!!
Thanks Jaz
Jas says
Awe, thanks, Mollie! I'm just going down the memory lane. We also make a similar soup with sauerkraut in my homeland (I think I might even have the recipe on the blog, but it's really old). Cabbage and sauerkraut are the perfect winter staples. Thanks for stopping in! xx
Irina says
Really! This cabbage stew resembles something that was made by my mom many years back. You have brought my childhood memories... I am gonna try your recipe. It sounds too delicious...
Nicole @ The Granola Diaries says
This sounds so hearty and healthy! yum!!
Julie says
Great recipe! So much flavor! Thanks for sharing! *****
whitney says
Now this is a hearty winter meal we needed! I love the combo of sausage and cabbage, so delicious.
Beth says
We buy smoked sausage all of the time but never thought to make it in a stew! So delicious!
Jas says
Beth, it gives the stew such a wonderful flavor! You should also try this Polish breakfast soup with kielbasa. So so good! 😀