Full Recipe
Author
Food Network | 2021-12-09
Description
Baked sauerkraut casserole, known as podvarok or podvarak, is a winter and festive specialty across the Balkan region. Historically, podvarok was a versatile vehicle for several types of meat and poultry, including duck, goose and turkey, which inspired this version with duck legs. Nowadays, podvarok is often made with pork, though it is also typical to prepare meat-free versions of it, especially in the lead up to Christmas for families who may be observing the Nativity Fast. My family, from North Macedonia, loves podvarok prepared simply with leeks, rice and a little paprika and this often forms part of our Christmas Eve feast. It works beautifully as a basis for the duck legs. The accompanying salad is known as “Macedonian salad” in North Macedonia, and its acidity cuts nicely through the richness of the podvarok.
