Čobanac sits at the heart of eastern Croatia’s cooking, especially in Slavonia and Baranja, where fields, forests, and rivers shape what ends up in the pot. Traditionally, this stew simmered for hours in a large copper cauldron hung over an open fire, feeding shepherds and farm workers after a long day outdoors. The dish needed to be hearty, concentrated, and generous, with enough meat and fat to restore strength in one bowl. Modern cooks might stand at a gas hob instead of a field fire, yet the spirit of the stew remains the same: simple ingredients, patient heat, and a lot of paprika.
Regional accounts describe čobanac as a mix of several meats, with beef and pork as a base and veal, lamb, or wild game such as venison appearing whenever available. The meat cooks on a bed of onion, often in quantities that surprise anyone making it for the first time; that onion slowly melts down into a sweet, silky foundation. Sweet and hot ground paprika give the stew its deep brick-red colour and a gentle burn at the back of the throat, drawing clear links to Hungarian goulash while remaining distinctly Croatian in seasoning and balance.
Traditional versions lean on pork lard for richness and flavour. The meat is browned in the fat, then the onion follows, picking up all the caramelised bits from the bottom of the pot. Wine often enters the pot later, lending brightness and helping the sauce cook down to a glossy, spoon-coating consistency. Some cooks slide in pig trotters or oxtail for extra gelatin, which thickens the broth without flour and leaves a pleasant stickiness on the lips once the bowl is empty.
This version keeps close to tradition while staying practical for a home kitchen. It uses three meats—beef chuck, pork shoulder, and lamb or game if available—cut into small, even chunks so they cook at the same pace. Onions, peppers, garlic, paprika, and a touch of tomato paste build flavour in layers, while a moderate splash of dry white wine adds lift. The stew simmers gently for a couple of hours until the meat turns tender and the sauce thickens naturally. A small amount of hot paprika or chili flakes controls the heat; the level can be tailored to the table, from mild warmth to a proper Slavonian burn.
From a nutrition standpoint, čobanac delivers plenty of protein and satisfying fat, with only modest carbohydrates if served on its own or with a small portion of bread or polenta. It fits comfortably into cold-weather cooking, yet it works at any time of year when a large group gathers around a shared pot. The stew keeps and reheats very well, which makes it convenient for parties, village celebrations, or simple batch cooking.
What sets this recipe apart lies in a few test-kitchen details: careful browning of the meat in batches, slow cooking of the onions until truly soft and golden, blooming the paprika briefly in fat before adding liquid, and giving the stew time to rest before serving so the flavours settle. None of these steps feels complicated, yet together they deliver depth that recalls tavern cooking in Slavonia, even in a small apartment kitchen far from the Drava and Sava rivers.
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kkalČobanac is a traditional Slavonian shepherd’s stew built from three kinds of meat, a generous bed of onion, and large spoonfuls of sweet and hot paprika. This version keeps the rustic spirit intact while fitting into a standard heavy pot on the hob. Beef chuck, pork shoulder, and lamb or game simmer slowly with peppers, garlic, wine, and stock until the sauce turns deep red and glossy and the meat softens without falling apart. Active work stays moderate; most of the time is hands-off simmering. The stew suits cold evenings, informal celebrations, and any occasion that calls for a big, satisfying pot in the centre of the table, ready to ladle over mashed potatoes, polenta, or simple bread.
Pork lard, 3 tbsp — Traditional cooking fat; neutral oil or clarified butter can stand in.
Smoked bacon or pancetta, 100 g, diced — Adds depth and smokiness; omit for a lighter version.
Beef chuck, 500 g, cut into 2 cm cubes — Well-marbled cut that stays tender after long simmering.
Pork shoulder, 500 g, cut into 2 cm cubes — Balances flavour and fat; pork neck works as well.
Lamb shoulder or venison, 300 g, cut into 2 cm cubes — Optional third meat for a more traditional, game-like profile.
Pork trotter or beef tail, 1 small piece (optional, 250–300 g) — Rich in collagen; helps thicken the stew naturally.
Yellow onions, 700–800 g (about 4–5 large), finely chopped — Forms the main body of the sauce; do not reduce this amount.
Carrots, 2 medium, diced — Adds sweetness and colour; traditional in some household versions.
Red bell pepper, 1 large, diced — Brings aroma and gentle sweetness; green pepper can substitute.
Garlic, 5–6 cloves, minced — For savoury depth.
Sweet ground paprika, 3 tbsp — Use high-quality Croatian or Hungarian paprika for colour and flavour.
Hot ground paprika, 1–2 tsp (to taste) — Controls spiciness; smoked hot paprika or chili flakes can replace part of it.
Tomato paste, 1½ tbsp — Helps with colour and gentle acidity without turning the stew into a tomato dish.
Ground cumin or caraway, ½ tsp (optional) — A subtle earthy note; used in some regional versions.
Dried marjoram, 1 tsp (optional) — Soft herbal note that fits well with pork and beef.
Bay leaves, 2 — Classic stew seasoning.
Dry white wine, 150 ml — Adds acidity and aroma; choose a simple, not overly oaked wine.
Beef or mixed meat stock, 1–1.2 L, hot — Enough to just cover the meat; water plus stock cube can stand in.
Salt, 2–2½ tsp to start, then to taste — Adjust near the end once the stew has reduced.
Freshly ground black pepper, ½–1 tsp, to taste — Final seasoning.
Fresh parsley, 2–3 tbsp, finely chopped — For colour and freshness at the end.
Crusty white bread, mashed potatoes, or polenta — Traditional partners that soak up the sauce.
Trim and cube the meat — Pat the beef, pork, and lamb or game dry and cut into even 2 cm cubes so they cook at a similar rate.
Season the meat lightly — Sprinkle the cubes with 1½ tsp salt and a little black pepper, toss, and leave at room temperature for 15–20 minutes while preparing the vegetables.
Prepare the vegetables — Finely chop the onions, dice the carrots and red pepper, and mince the garlic; keep each in separate bowls for smooth cooking.
Heat the fat and render the bacon — Warm a large heavy pot (5–6 L) over medium heat, add the lard and diced bacon, and cook for 4–5 minutes until the fat renders and the bacon starts to turn golden.
Brown the meat in batches — Increase the heat to medium-high, add a single layer of mixed meat, and sear for 3–4 minutes per batch until well coloured on at least two sides. Transfer browned meat to a bowl and repeat until all the meat is seared.
Sauté the onions in the rendered fat — Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the chopped onions to the pot, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and cook for 15–20 minutes, stirring often, until soft, translucent, and lightly golden.
Add carrots, pepper, and garlic — Stir in the carrots and red pepper and cook for 5–6 minutes until slightly softened, then add the garlic and cook 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
Bloom the paprika and spices — Add sweet paprika, hot paprika, tomato paste, cumin or caraway, marjoram, and bay leaves. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds so the paprika darkens slightly and releases aroma without burning.
Deglaze with wine — Pour in the white wine, scrape the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits, and let the liquid simmer for 2–3 minutes until reduced by roughly half.
Return meat and add stock — Tip the browned meat and any collected juices back into the pot. Nestle the pork trotter or beef tail inside, then pour in enough hot stock to just cover the meat.
Bring to a gentle simmer — Heat until the surface just starts to bubble, then lower the heat so the stew simmers quietly with small, steady bubbles.
Slow-cook until tender — Cover the pot partially and cook for 1½ hours, stirring every 20–30 minutes to prevent sticking, then uncover and continue simmering for another 45–60 minutes. The meat should feel tender and the sauce should thicken and coat the back of a spoon.
Check meat doneness and safety — The stew simmers well above the safe internal temperature for pork and beef (at least 63°C / 145°F for whole cuts), and long cooking times give an additional safety margin in line with standard guidelines.
Adjust thickness and seasoning — If the stew seems thin, continue simmering uncovered for 10–15 minutes to reduce slightly. Remove the trotter or tail if used. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and hot paprika as needed.
Rest briefly and finish with herbs — Take the pot off the heat and let the stew rest for 10–15 minutes so the flavours settle. Stir in chopped parsley just before serving.
Serve hot with simple sides — Ladle čobanac into warm bowls and pair with crusty bread, creamy mashed potatoes, or soft polenta so each serving catches plenty of the brick-red sauce.
Approximate values for one of six servings, without sides:
| Gizi | Jumlah (perkiraan) |
|---|---|
| Kalori | ~540 kcal |
| Karbohidrat | ~14 gram |
| Protein | ~47 g |
| Gemuk | ~30 gram |
| Serat | ~3 gram |
| Sodium | ~850 mg |
| Alergen Utama | None in the stew itself; check bacon, stock, and sides for gluten or other additives |
These figures draw on standard reference values for beef chuck, pork shoulder, lamb shoulder, bacon, onions, peppers, lard, and stock, scaled to the quantities in this recipe. Actual nutrition will vary with specific cuts, fat levels, and seasoning choices.
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