Gaby
During winter, the people who feel the cold the most are those who don’t eat meat and are weakened by malnutrition. Nutrition experts suggest that meat products should make up about 40% of our diet during the colder months. Meat strengthens muscle tissue and boosts the body’s ability to fight off viruses. A slowdown in metabolic processes and a lack of vitamins can lead to quick fatigue and lethargy. To avoid going into hibernation, winter dishes should be heartier and balanced in terms of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Ingredients: pork – 1 kg; pumpkin – 1.5 kg; eggplants – 1 kg; onion – 500 g; carrot – 500 g; bell pepper – 500 g; adjika – 2 tablespoons; cream – 400 g; hard cheese – 100 g; salt, black pepper, and spices – to taste; vegetable oil – for frying; herbs – for garnish.
Cut the pumpkin, carrot, bell pepper, onion, and eggplants into pieces, salt them, and place them in the refrigerator for two hours (each vegetable separately).
Drain the liquid from the eggplants and fry them in oil in a preheated skillet. Then, separately fry the pumpkin, carrot, bell pepper, and onion.
Combine all the fried vegetables in a pot for stewing, add spices, cream, and simmer for five minutes.
Wash the pork, pat it dry, cut it into strips, and salt it. Add adjika, spices, and fry in vegetable oil. Remove from heat and let it cool.
Grate the cheese using a coarse grater.
In a greased baking dish, layer some of the fried vegetables and the fried pork. Then add more vegetables and another layer of pork. Top the meat with the remaining vegetables and sprinkle with grated cheese.
Place the dish in the oven (180°C) and bake until cooked through. When serving, garnish the dish with herbs.
Life Hack
It’s not advisable to serve fried potatoes or French fries with fatty pork, as such foods are heavy on the stomach and unhealthy for your figure. The ideal vegetable side dish for this type of meat is stewed or fermented cabbage, or grilled vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, or eggplants. The best liquid condiment for pork is considered to be an apple-honey sauce (made from tart apples with added honey). However, keep in mind that sauces not only add a juicier consistency to dishes but also increase their calorie content.
