April 9, 2025RECIPES
Istrian Jota (Traditional Recipe)
PREPARATION TIME: 2–3 hours
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
Ingredients
- ~500 g (about 2 cups) dried beans
- ~500 g (about 1 lb) sauerkraut or pickled turnip
- 4–5 potatoes
- A small piece of smoked pork ribs (or another type of smoked meat)
- A small piece of pancetta
- 3–4 garlic cloves
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste (I use whole peppercorns)
- 2 bay leaves
Preparation
- Soak the beans overnight in cold water. The next day, drain and cook them in fresh cold water until soft.
- In a separate pot, rinse the sauerkraut and place it together with the smoked ribs (or other smoked meat). Add chopped pancetta, garlic, bay leaves, salt (carefully – the meat is salty), and black pepper (I prefer whole peppercorns). Cook until the sauerkraut and meat are tender.
- Peel and dice the potatoes, cook them in salted water until soft. Mash them roughly with a little of the cooking water.
- When the pork is cooked, remove the meat from the bones, cut it into pieces, and return it to the sauerkraut mixture. Add the cooked beans and mashed potatoes. Mix well.
- Let everything simmer together for a short while so the flavors combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed – more salt or pepper to your liking.
Now you’ve made Istrian Jota — hearty, smoky, and perfect for colder days.
Other recipes you should try
Istarski Ombolo & Sausages with Sauerkraut
PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes prep + 60 minutes cooking
DIFFICULTY: Medium