Grah iz ćupa

Grah iz ćupa is a traditional dish originating from Baranja. It’s made with a combination of beans, dried meat, carrots, garlic, onions, paprika powder, salt, pepper, and (optionally) bay leaves and hot peppers. The beans are soaked overnight, then placed in an earthenware pot with the dried meat, chopped onions, and water.

The pot is placed near an open fire and it’s left to simmer for at least 2 hours. Once it’s bubbling, the vegetables, spices, and paprika are added to the pot, and the stew is left to simmer for a few more hours. The dish is done when the beans have a flavor that’s reminiscent of chestnuts and the liquid becomes creamy and shiny.

The preparation of grah iz ćupa is an old tradition of Hungarians who had settled in Baranja. In the past, the beans were cooked when there was lots of work in the field – the earthenware pot, which gives a special aroma and flavor to the stew, was left near the fire to cook for half a day to feed the hungry workers when they were done with their work.