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My vegan jota is a hearty smoky bean and sauerkraut hotpot, is simplicity itself to make, and is perfect during cooler weather!
I’d never ever eaten sauerkraut before we moved to Slovenia, and if I’m honest, it’s something that’s never really appealed to me; I’m not a lover of fermented or pickled foods, and sauerkraut seemed to me fall into these categories. However, I’m so glad I bit the bullet, and gave it a try because I can honestly say that I pretty much love it now.
Which is good news, since it’s a key ingredient in this vegan jota.
The first time I had sauerkraut, I bought a big jar of it – in for a penny, in for a pound, right? Actually, the shop I went to only had large jars, so I hoped I’d like it.
I did… I loved it!
Discovering Slovenian Jota
Not long after my first taste of sauerkraut, however, amato mio and I went for a drive up the Vršič Pass…
At the top of the Vršič Pass, one of my favourite places in Slovenia.
… where halfway up, we discovered a little place called Tonkina Koča, which, simply put, is the stuff of fairy tales.
We discovered meat-free jota on the menu, so of course, had to have some.
It would have been rude not to, right?
After that, I was completely sold on sauerkraut, and now I eat it on a regular basis. Nothing, though, comes close to the sauerkraut made by my Bosnian friend, Desa. My mouth is watering, just thinking of it! In the autumn, she makes huge bucketfuls of sauerkraut. After having eaten kraut all over the place – and making it myself – I can honestly say that Desa is the queen of kraut!
As for the jota… in addition to being insanely easy to make from sauerkraut, beans, and potatoes, plus a bit of vegetable broth, it’s also really frugal. It’s typical cucina povera – the best kind of food, in my opinion! It freezes well, and will keep in an airtight container in the ‘fridge for up to a week; in fact, this vegan jota is even better 2-3 days after it’s been made. I also sometimes add my sausages to the jota, which works really well.
Fun fact: did you know that Cleveland (USA) has the largest urban Slovene population outside Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana?
Garth and Joey love jota and žganci! In addition to being delicious and filling, those huge bowls of jota and žganci, plus a basket of bread, were plenty for amato mio and me, and cost just 6,5 euros!
Vegan Jota (Slovenian Sauerkraut & Bean Stew)
Is…
- hearty
- filling
- warming
- diet-friendly
- gluten-free
- soy-free
- nut-free
- dairy-free
- economical
- what autumn and winter were made for!
- insanely delicious!
I really hope you enjoy this hearty Slovenian stew.
Dober tek!
Have you ever had jota – vegan or otherwise?
