👨‍🍳 Instrucțiuni

1. 1

   Pat the pork cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Brown the pork in batches until golden brown on all sides. Remove the pork and set aside.

   💡 Sfaturi Profesioniste: Browning the pork in batches prevents overcrowding the pot, ensuring a good sear.
2. 2

   Add the chopped onions to the pot and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes. Add the minced garlic, sweet paprika, and ground caraway seeds, and cook for another minute until fragrant.

   💡 Sfaturi Profesioniste: Scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot will add extra flavor to the stew.
3. 3

   Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Return the browned pork to the pot. Pour in the pork broth (or water), add the dried prunes and the bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

   💡 Sfaturi Profesioniste: Ensure the liquid mostly covers the pork; add more broth or water if necessary.
4. 4

   Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently for at least 2 hours, or until the pork is very tender. Stir occasionally, and skim off any excess fat if desired.

   💡 Sfaturi Profesioniste: Low and slow cooking is essential for tender, succulent pork.
5. 5

   While the stew simmers, prepare the dumplings. In a medium bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, flour, egg, and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.

   💡 Sfaturi Profesioniste: The consistency of the dough should be soft but manageable. If it's too sticky, add a little more flour.
6. 6

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Using two spoons, form small dumplings from the dough and carefully drop them into the boiling water. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until they float to the surface and are cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon.

   💡 Sfaturi Profesioniste: Cook dumplings in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot.
7. 7

   Once the pork is tender, remove the bay leaf from the stew. Season with salt and pepper to taste. The stew should be thick; if it's too thin, simmer uncovered for a bit longer to reduce the sauce.

   💡 Sfaturi Profesioniste: The prunes will break down and help thicken the sauce naturally.
8. 8

   Serve the pork and prune stew hot, with the cooked potato dumplings on the side or spooned over the stew.

   💡 Sfaturi Profesioniste: Garnish with fresh parsley or a dollop of sour cream, if desired.