Smalec (pork spread) is a famous Polish dish. It is a spread on bread made from fatty pork and onions. Although the recipe for this dish comes from old times, pork spread is still popular in Poland. As an appetizer or a compliment from an institution, it can be found in many restaurants of Polish national cuisine. You can also try pork spread at Christmas markets in Polish cities. It is also sold in stores. Usually smalec is served on bread with a piece of pickled cucumber.
Of course, this appetizer is a dish for an amateur. Not everyone likes such fatty foods. But I like. Therefore, I always have a jar of homemade pork spread in my refrigerator. It is great as a snack or as an addition to borscht.
Ingredients (per 1 liter jar):
- Bacon(or a combination of lard and pork neck) – 1 kg.
- Onion – 3 pcs.
- Garlic – 5 cloves
- Bay leaf – 2 pcs.
- Black peppercorns – 5 pcs.
- Dried marjoram – 1 tbsp.
- Salt
Cooking process
It is advisable to cook polish pork spread in a heavy-bottomed dish. Personally, I cook it in a cauldron.
Smalec is prepared from the fatty parts of pork – bacon. You can also mix lard and pork neck. I like the proportion of 70% fat to 30% meat. If you cook only from pure lard without the meat part, you get just a fatty homogeneous mass.
1 Cut bacon into small cubes. Fry for a few minutes. Next, pour a little water and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes (enough fat should be rendered). When the water evaporates, you need to add more. Also, do not forget to periodically stir so that the pork does not stick to the bottom.
2 When a lot of fat has been rendered, you can add finely chopped onion, bay leaf, peppercorns and marjoram. Mix. Simmer for 2 hours on low heat.
At the end of cooking, add garlic squeezed through a press. Salt to taste. Stir and after a minute turn off the gas.
3 Pour the prepared smalec into dry and clean jars. Close the jars tightly with lids. Cool and put in the refrigerator. In the refrigerator, the pork spread will harden and turn into a hard spread.
Pork spread (smalec) served on bread with pickles and onions.
Other pork dishes:
Pancetta Arrotolata https://takajaeda.com/en/recipes-en/pancetta-arrotolata-2/
Ukrainian homemade sausage https://takajaeda.com/en/recipes-en/dinner/ukrainian-homemade-sausage/