Podvarak Posni — Fasting Sauerkraut Bake

Podvarak is Serbia's baked sauerkraut dish, traditionally made with pork. The fasting version leans
into the sauerkraut itself — slow-baked with onions, paprika, and oil until it caramelizes and
develops a rich, tangy, almost meaty depth. Paired with white beans and served over bread, this is
substantial cold-weather fasting food.

FASTING LEVEL: Fast With Oil (for strict oil-free days, bake the sauerkraut without oil — it will still caramelize, just more slowly)

SERVINGS: 4
TIME: 1 hour 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
- 800 g sauerkraut, drained and lightly rinsed (taste first — if very salty, rinse more)
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 1 can (400 g) white beans, drained and rinsed
- 4 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 200 ml water
- Black pepper to taste
- Salt only if needed (sauerkraut is often salty enough)

METHOD:
1. Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
2. Heat oil in a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook for 10 minutes until soft and starting to caramelize.
3. Add both paprikas and stir for 30 seconds.
4. Add sauerkraut and sugar. Stir to combine and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add white beans, garlic, bay leaves, water, and pepper. Stir well.
6. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Remove cover and bake 15 more minutes to allow the top to caramelize.
7. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning.
8. Serve hot, spooned over thick slices of bread or alongside polenta.

NOTES:
- The sugar is not for sweetness — it helps the sauerkraut caramelize in the oven.
- Taste the sauerkraut before cooking. If it is very sour and salty, rinse it well and reduce or omit added salt.
- White beans are the protein anchor here, providing about 7 g per serving.
- Podvarak improves dramatically when reheated the next day. The sauerkraut softens further and the flavors deepen.

NUTRITION (per serving, approximate):
Calories: 280 | Protein: 11 g | Carbohydrates: 30 g | Fat: 14 g | Fibre: 9 g