Looking to cook a hearty homemade Pork and Cabbage Stew?
This quick & easy Greek Pork Cabbage Stew recipe is the perfect comfort food for busy households looking to inject a bit of healthy Mediterranean nutrition into the midweek meal.
The simple Greek recipe features affordable ingredients like olive oil, cabbage, tomato paste, pork shoulder, onion, sweet bell pepper, honey, oregano and feta cheese.
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What Is Greek Pork and Cabbage Stew?
This delicious Pork and Cabbage Stew is inspired by a regional recipe called Hoirino Me Mapa from the Peloponnese region of Greece.
The hearty comfort food is a popular stew in the cooler winter months.
The dish is prepared with fatty pork shoulder (also known as pork butt), which simmers in a flavourful tomato-based liquid until soft and tender.
Travel to Greece by Cooking Pork Cabbage Stew at Home
I love traveling to Europe.
As a professional food and travel journalist, I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy amazing meals in Europe, from traditional markets to award winning restaurants.
During my first visit to the continent I traveled for 5 months by train and plane. I had the opportunity to eat my way through Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia,Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey and Italy.
For over ten years, I’ve been on the hunt for the best Pork Cabbage Stew recipe. In Greece, I enjoyed comforting bowls of Hoirino Me Mapa at restaurants in Meteora, Tzitzikas Kai in Athens, Kokkalo The Bone in Santorini and Kiki’s Taverna in Mykonos. The best place to sample the dish is in its birthplace, the Peloponnese.
After you’ve enjoyed your first few bites, you’ll realize why Pork and Cabbage Stew is a must-try when visiting Greece!
Where To Eat Greek Pork Stew
If you live in a large city in North America you’ll likely have access to a local Greek restaurant that serves authentic Pork Cabbage Stew.
Haven’t traveled to Greece before? It may be helpful to first sample Pork and Cabbage Stew at a local restaurant to better understand how the popular comfort food is served. You’ll get an idea for the ideal pork to cabbage ratio, how much honey to use to sweeten the sauce and other Greek dishes to serve at the table.
In Toronto, popular Greek restaurants that may serve traditional stew include Mamakas Taverna, Mezes Greek Restaurant, Estiatorio Volos and Messini.
My Family Loves Pork and Cabbage Stew
My family are big fans of Mediterranean cuisine.
We love cooking flavourful dishes from Greece, Bosnia, Croatia, Egypt, France, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and Turkey.
After traveling to Greece I wanted to share my love for Pork and Cabbage Stew with friends and family.
I prepared the recipe at our cottage in Muskoka on a cold winter day. I cooked the dish in the morning while everyone kept cozy by the fire, eagerly awaiting lunch. The perfume of oregano, tomato and onion wafted through the air, making our mouths water.
This easy Greek Stew is a tasty way to incorporate fresh and flavourful ingredients into a healthy Mediterranean diet. The attractive main course is a real show stopper if you’ve got company coming for dinner!
Health Benefits
This Greek recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!
Olive Oil is ranked as one of the healthiest fats and is a staple in the Mediterranean diet. It contains vitamins E and K and plenty of beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants.
Onions are a humble vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of onions can help boost digestive health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
An excellent source of vitamins K and C, cabbage helps keep your bones, blood, and immune system healthy.
Rich in a group of phytochemicals called carotenoids, tomatoes may help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and provide protection against cancer. Tomatoes are also a good source of immune-boosting vitamin C.
Pork is an excellent source of protein and provides several important vitamins and minerals. It’s an excellent source of thiamin, selenium, niacin, vitamin B-6 and phosphorus, zinc, riboflavin and potassium.
Bell Peppers are an incredible source of vitamins C and A, which support your skin and immune system. They also provide beneficial carotenoid compounds such as beta-carotene, which has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Oregano is rich in antioxidants, may help fight bacteria, could have anti-cancer properties and can decrease inflammation.
Consuming dairy products (such as milk and cheese) provides health benefits — especially improved bone health. Dairy foods provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.
Stew Recipe Cooking Tips
Greek Pork and Cabbage Stew is quick and easy to make at home.
- Use a large pot or Dutch Oven to prepare the stew over your stove.
- We suggest using a Greek olive oil in this recipe but you can use a flavourless vegetable like canola if you prefer.
- We’ve used green cabbage in this stew but you can substitute for napa cabbage or savoy cabbage. Do not use red cabbage it will discolour the dish.
- Visit your butcher and request pork shoulder or pork butt. This is the exact same meat cut, which can be confusing if you’ve never cooked with it before. You can let the butcher know you are making a stew and have it cut into chunks for you. Or bring the pork shoulder home and cut it into pieces, being sure to discard the fat and bone.
- We’ve used a red onion in this recipe but you can substitute for white or vidalia onion.
- We’ve used a red bell pepper but you can substitue for yellow or orange sweet peppers.
- We suggest garnishing the dish with a firm Greek-style cow’s milk feta cheese. Crumble it on top before serving.
What To Serve with Greek Pork Stew
Our stew is the perfect main course to serve at a Mediterranean themed dinner party.
The stew does a great job at warming you up so we love to serve it in the winter after spending a day outside skiing or skating.
We often double the recipe as leftovers can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you’re looking to impress guests at a Mediterranean themed dinner party we suggest serving this hearty pork stew with other popular dishes from Greece and the Mediterranean such as:
- Creamy Cheesy Greek Spanakopita Dip
- Oven Roasted Cypriot Cyprus Potatoes
- Prasorizo Vegetarian Greek Leek Rice Recipe
- Vegetarian Strapatsada Greek Scrambled Eggs
- Crispy Air Fryer Halloumi Cheese
- Baked Mediterranean Chicken Thighs
- Garides Saganaki Sizzling Greek Feta Shrimp
- Oven Baked Halloumi with Roasted Vegetables
- Fakes Soupa Healthy Vegetarian Greek Lentil Soup
- Melitzanosalata Greek Eggplant Dip
- Mucver Tarif Vegetarian Turkish Zucchini Fritters
- Turkish Pogaca Feta and Dill Bread Rolls
- Mihlama Kuymak Turkish Melted Cheese and Cornmeal
- Peynirli Pide Cheesy Chorizo Turkish Pizza
- Kiymali Pide Spiced Minced Meat Turkish Pizza
- Turkish Mint Yogurt Corbasi Soup
- Vegan Spicy Turkish Salsa Ezme Salata Salad
- Kisir Turkish Bulgur Salad
You May Also Enjoy These Pork Recipes…
- Lecho Hungarian Tomato Red Pepper Stew
- Calabrese Pasta Sauce
- Spicy Italian Pork Sausage Burgers
- Boller I Karry Danish Meatballs in Curry Sauce
- Chicken Pork & Shrimp Mexican Paella
- Cha Trung Vietnamese Meatloaf
- Kanom Jeeb Thai Steamed Dumplings
- Moo Ping BBQ Grilled Thai Pork Skewers
- Tagliatelle alla Bolognese Pasta
- Korean Gochujang Pulled Pork Shoulder
- Asado de Boda Mexican Chile Pork Stew
- Japanese Miso Ground Pork Stir Fry
- Sweet & Spicy Thit Ram Vietnamese Caramel Pork
- Creamy Red Thai Pork Curry
- Singapore Chow Mei Fun Noodles
How To Make Greek Pork and Cabbage Stew
Greek Pork and Cabbage Stew
Equipment
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- French knife
- Large pot
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 lb Green Cabbage cut into 1-inch slices
- 1/4 cup Tomato Paste
- 2 lb Boneless Pork Shoulder trimmed and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 Small Red Onion grated
- 1 Red Bell Pepper thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp Honey
- Kosher Salt and Pepper
- 1 tsp Fresh Oregano finely chopped
- 1 tbsp Feta Cheese crumbled
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the cabbage and cook, stirring, until lightly charred.
- Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until it clings to the pot and browns. Add the pork, onion, bell pepper, honey, 2 cups of water and a generous pinch of salt and pepper.
- Simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pork is tender, 30-40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and oregano.
- Serve drizzled with additional honey, oregano sprig and crumbled feta.
Nutrition
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