Jota

Name: Jota
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 110 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Slovenia
Ingredients: 1 cup dried beans, soaked overnight; 3 cups sauerkraut, drained; 2 potatoes, cubed; 1/2 lb smoked pork ribs or sausage; 1 onion, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 bay leaf; 1 tbsp flour; 2 tbsp lard or oil; 1 tsp sweet paprika; Salt and black pepper

6 servings20 min prep90 min cookMedium Slovenia

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Jota

Story updated September 17, 2026

Jota, a hearty stew of beans, sauerkraut, and potatoes, is closely associated with Slovenia's coastal Karst region and neighboring Trieste, its sour, smoky profile reflecting the shared culinary heritage of the historic Austro-Hungarian borderlands.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

1 cup dried beans, soaked overnight
3 cups sauerkraut, drained
2 potatoes, cubed
1/2 lb smoked pork ribs or sausage
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp flour
2 tbsp lard or oil
1 tsp sweet paprika
Salt and black pepper

Instructions

1Simmer the soaked beans in fresh water with the bay leaf until nearly tender, about 45 minutes.
2Add the smoked meat, sauerkraut, and potatoes, and continue simmering 30 minutes.
3Sauté onion and garlic in lard, stir in flour and paprika, and cook briefly to make a light roux.
4Stir the roux into the pot to thicken the stew.
5Simmer 10-15 more minutes until everything is tender and well combined.
6Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

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