SLOW-COOKED PORK STEW WITH TOMATO AND HERBS SERVED WITH HORSE-RADISH MASHED POTATOES

A comforting pork stew slowly simmered in a rich tomato and red wine sauce, infused with fresh thyme and a touch of balsamic vinegar. Paired with creamy mashed potatoes subtly spiced with horseradish, this dish offers a wonderful balance of flavors and textures — perfect for family dinners or cozy weekends.

🕒 Prep Time: 15 min

🍳 Cook Time: 1 hour 30 min
🍽️ Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

For the Pork Stew:

700 g lean pork (shoulder or leg), cut into 2-3 cm cubes
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 can (400 g) tomatoes
100 ml dry red wine
1 tsp sugar
1 heaping tsp balsamic vinegar cream
1-2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 5-6 small thyme stems)
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Horseradish Mashed Potatoes:

1 kg starchy potatoes
2 tbsp butter
Hot milk, as needed
1 heaping tsp prepared horseradish (freshly grated or jarred)
Salt

Instructions

1. Prepare the Pork Stew

Heat olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Brown pork cubes in batches to avoid overcrowding until nicely caramelized on all sides.
Return all browned pork to the pot. Add crushed garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant.
Add blended or crushed tomatoes, red wine, balsamic vinegar cream, sugar, and 50 ml water.
Bring to a boil, then season with salt, black pepper, and add thyme sprigs.
Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer gently for 1 hour and 15 minutes, checking tenderness with a fork. If not tender, continue cooking an additional 15 minutes.
Remove thyme sprigs. Stir in butter until melted for a creamy finish. Adjust seasoning as needed.

2. Make the Horseradish Mashed Potatoes

Peel and cube potatoes. Boil in salted water until tender. Drain well.
Mash potatoes using a masher or ricer until smooth.
Stir in butter until melted, then gradually add hot milk until the mash is fluffy and creamy.
Season with salt and fold in horseradish. Keep warm.

3. Serve

Plate the pork stew alongside a generous mound of horseradish mashed potatoes.
Garnish with freshly chopped parsley.

💡 Tips

Browning pork in batches develops deep flavor and caramelization.
Using tomato blended fresh or canned works well — adjust to your texture preference.
Horseradish adds a pleasant spicy bite to the creamy mash.
Slow simmering ensures tender, flavorful meat and a rich sauce.

🎉 Perfect For

Family comfort dinners
Hearty weekend meals
Rustic, flavorful pork dishes

📝 Final Thoughts

This pork stew with horseradish mashed potatoes is a timeless dish balancing richness, acidity, and subtle heat. Slow cooking and fresh herbs make it a soulful meal that’s easy to prepare yet deeply satisfying.