Smoky Hungarian Kolbász With Pale Ale (Potato Stew)

A twist on a Hungarian classic, lecsó (LEH-tcho), this hearty and robust stew combines spicy Hungarian salami (Kolbász) with tomato, capsicum, paprika and beer.

In a heavy-based frypan, cook the lardons over a medium heat for 3-4 mins with 1 Tbsp of canola oil until crispy. Add the onions, rosemary, garlic, Kolbász and capsicum. Cook for 5 mins until onions are soft and translucent.

Add the tomato paste and cook through for 1 min, add the chopped tomatoes, beef stock, liquid hickory smoke, pale ale, bay leaves, smoked paprika, brown sugar and salt. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 3 mins while stirring.

Reduce heat to low, stir through the carrots and potatoes. Partially cover, and cook for 20 mins until vegetables are tender and liquid is reduced.

Remove bay leaves, spoon stew into large serving bowls, sprinkle over fresh chopped herbs and serve with grilled sourdough bread.

100g Lady Butcher bacon lardons

1 Tbsp canola oil

1½ brown onions, diced

2 Tbsp rosemary, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

300g Kolbász, sliced 0.5cm (2x150g Hungarian Artisan Spicy Salami/Kolbász)

1 red capsicum, diced 2cm

60g Mutti tomato paste

1 can Mutti chopped tomatoes

500ml Foundation Foods beef stock (or 1 tsp of Vegata beef stock powder + 500ml boiling water)

2 tsp Culley’s Liquid Hickory Smoke

250ml Citizen Pale Ale Beer (or similar)

2 bay leaves

1 tsp La Chinta smoked paprika

2 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp salt

2 carrots, peeled and diced 2cm

200g Agria potatoes, peeled and diced 2cm

1 Citizen Malty Sourdough, sliced and grilled

2 Tbsp chopped dill (Italian parsley or tarragon)