Authentic Romanian Cauldron “Stuffing” – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother  Recipe  Video

Authentic Romanian Cauldron “Stuffing” – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother

Rice, chicken livers, gizzards, and a surprise twist of bread – a deliciously comforting Romanian “stuffing” recipe passed down through generations.

Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother

Recipe by ElyCourse: Main, Lunch, DinnerCuisine: RomanianDifficulty: Medium
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

1

hour 

15

minutes
Calories

285

kcal
Total time

1

hour 

45

minutes

“Stuffing” is a beloved dish from my hometown, perfect for large families due to its simple ingredients. It was usually made in autumn and winter, as it spoils quickly if not stored properly.
My grandmother’s recipe fed countless fussy grandchildren. A skilled welder and housewife, she took care of us while our parents worked in the fields, cooking two dishes for lunch and a hearty spread of doughnuts. If we weren’t good, we’d quickly feel the slipper – and no one escaped it! :)))
She often cooked in large pots over a wood fire. We, the children, would wait eagerly by the fire, sneaking tastes whenever we could.
The recipe was prepared with great love for Chef Adi Hadean’s blog. Let me show you how I prepared it – in the cauldron, with a deep longing for my grandmother. On the side, I paired it with a “February colors” salad, which complemented the rich and sweet stuffing perfectly.

Ingredients

  • 500 g white onion

  • 500 g of chicken liver

  • 500 g gizzards

  • 300 g of rice

  • 2 slices of bread (ideally older, only the core is used)

  • 600 g pork meat (if you have meat fried in lard, so much the better)

  • 50 ml oil (or lard, if following the old recipe)

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Ingredients for the beetroot and carrot salad

  • 450 g fresh beetroot

  • 350 g carrots

  • Salt, pepper, oil, and vinegar to taste

  • To serve:
    Pickles (for extra flavor)

Directions

  • As you can see, the ingredients are very simple and relatively inexpensive. If you live in the countryside, getting the ingredients will be a piece of cake. The preparation method is also very easy – you just need to follow the steps in the recipe.ingredients Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother
  • Meat is optional in this recipe; if you prefer not to use it, feel free to skip it. For a richer taste, I chose to add it. I cut the meat into suitable pieces. I also chopped the onion, but not too finely. I heated some oil in a non-stick pan with high sides and fried the meat on high heat, turning it on all sides. Be cautious of hot oil splashes, as they can cause burns. I gradually added water and reduced the heat. I covered the pan with a lid and continued to cook the meat until it became tender, adding more water as needed when it evaporated.meat and onion prep for the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmothercooking meat for the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother
  • In the cauldron (tuci), I boiled the chicken gizzards and chicken livers separately. I added a little salt to the water and skimmed the foam as needed. Once cooked, I removed them onto a plate and let them cool, along with the meat. Under no circumstances should you throw away the water in which they boiled! It will be the perfect base for the rice.cooked pork meat: boiled chicken livers and gizzards for the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother
  • In the fat left over from the meat (I didn’t change the pan, as it’s unnecessary), I sautéed the onion over low to medium heat. This step takes a while, as the onion needs to cook slowly until it becomes translucent. In the broth from boiling the chicken gizzards and livers, I added the washed rice and let it simmer on low heat.
    A little tip: measure the liquid before adding the rice. For 300 g of rice, you’ll need 1200 ml of water—this is four times the amount of rice, measured in milliliters.cooking onion for the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmothercooking rice for the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother
  • Meanwhile, I worked on the gizzards and livers. I chopped them as finely as possible and set them aside. Once the onion became translucent, I added the minced meat to the pan. I poured in two ladlefuls of the broth in which the rice was boiling and cooked everything until the liquid evaporated. I seasoned with salt to taste and plenty of pepper – just like Grandma always advised.cooked onion and boiled chopped chicken and gizzards for the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmothercooked onion and boiled chopped chicken and gizzards for the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother
  • After the rice was cooked, I turned off the heat and let it cool for 7-8 minutes. The key is that it should not be hot, but only slightly warm. I did the same with the pan where I had prepared the mixture of onions, livers, and gizzards. Once they cooled, I added the mixture from the pan to the cauldron. I stirred everything well and tasted for salt and pepper.cooked rice for the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother
  • I removed the crust from the slices of bread and chopped the bread core as finely as possible. I then added it to the cauldron and mixed everything with broad movements. You’ll notice that the consistency will quickly become similar to that of a thicker mashed potato. My “Stuffing” is ready!adding bread to the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother
  • How to prepare beetroot and carrot salad:
    I used a food processor with grating attachments, but you can just as easily use a regular grater. I grated the vegetables and placed them in a large bowl. Then, I seasoned with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste. And the salad is ready! Nothing simpler!prep carrots and beetroot for the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmothercarrots and beetroot salad for the Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother
  • The “Stuffing” can be served both hot and at room temperature, with a salad or pickles. For those who want, I also added pieces of meat. My advice is to strategically sit next to the cauldron, so you can “nibble” on the pieces of meat on top of the stuffing.serving Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother
  • Dear friends, regardless of the season in which you prepare this dish, remember that it is very important to refrigerate it as soon as it cools down. I hope you enjoyed my grandmother’s recipe. If you have similar recipes or any questions, I look forward to hearing from you in the comments so we can chat at your leisure.
    Hugs,
    Ely
    cover photo for Authentic Romanian Cauldron Stuffing – A Recipe Passed Down from My Grandmother

Recipe Video

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