Wild Boar Stew (Stifado) in the Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 kg wild boar
• 2 kg small onions for stifado
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• Salt
• Pepper
• Sweet paprika
• 2 bay leaves
• 5-6 cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4-5 whole garlic cloves
• 30 g vinegar
• Olive oil

Instructions for the Onions

1. Peel and wash the small onions, then let them drain on a paper towel.
2. Sauté them in hot olive oil until they gain color and soften slightly. Once sautéed, place them in a bowl and set aside.

Instructions for the Wild Boar

1. Rinse the wild boar well and allow it to drain.
2. In a pot, heat some olive oil and brown the wild boar on all sides.
3. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté together with the meat.
4. Add the tomato paste, salt, and cover with water. Let it simmer over medium heat for about 60-70 minutes until the meat is tender. (Alternatively, you can use a pressure cooker for this step.)
5. Ensure you have enough broth left in the pot to use in the casserole for baking.
6. Transfer the small onions to the casserole, adding more salt if needed, pepper, paprika, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon stick, garlic cloves, and vinegar.
7. Once the wild boar is ready, place the pieces between the onions in the casserole and pour over the broth from the pot. If there is excess broth, set it aside in case more is needed later; otherwise, add a bit of water if needed.
8. Cover the casserole and bake in a preheated oven at 190-200°C (375-400°F) until the sauce thickens.
9. Ten minutes before turning off the oven, uncover the casserole to allow the dish to develop a rich color and for the sauce to become silky and thick.

Enjoy your flavorful wild boar stifado, a hearty and aromatic dish perfect for a special meal!