Anyone have a potjie? It's sort of like a Dutch oven but longer legs and rounder. Just saw one on BCUSA and now there's another thing to add to my " cast collection".
been wanting one for years. Going to order from these guys soon. https://potjiepotusa.com SURVIVAL RUSSIA does a great video on Potjie cooking
Just saw these, ama#on. $120 USD, not sure what the conversion to Canadian $$ would be. It's not going to be cheap but good cast will outlive us for sure.
And the best part is they come big enough to cook annoying toddlers in them! (kidding kidding, children are awesome )
Alright, I want to get back into the cast iron game. Can someone recommend me a good pan at a decent price?
You got two options. Easiest is to go to Walmart or Kroger and get you a Lodge. Probably cost you about $20. Best way is to get yourself to some antique/thrift stores and find you a Griswold, old Wagner, or the like. Probably be $20-$40 That is, if your grandmother, mother in law or someone in your family doesn't have an heirloom kicking around in the
Craigslist!! I have scored more iron on craigs than anywhere. Esp after Christmas or the wedding season, when people sell cast iron they got as gifts. garage sales too! Just be sure to test the iron with a lead test kit....some people use cast iron pans for melting lead. It absorbs into the iron pores quite well.....and releases when heated as a vapor, deadly to pets, small kids and people. \
Field is machined smooth on the inside, like old stuff. Lodge is textured on the inside, because it's not machined. An air sander, some 60 and/or 80 grit and some elbow grease will smooth a Lodge out pretty nicely.
Potjie pot cooking.....but with a twist....not on the coals, but the stove and oven Hunters Stew (Farmers Sausage, garlic, spices, tomatoes, chickpeas and sauerkraut) Normally the Potjie is used over fire and coals , today i used it on the stove and in the oven. Lets start with a 3/4 size Potjie, carefully balanced over the stovetop coils. Filled with 3/4cup EVOO, cumin coriander, black pepper and salt. Heat the oil HOT, and drop in the spices. Then add your sliced up double smoked farmers sausages. add an entire bulb or two of whole fresh garlic cloves. let the meat saute in the hot oil and herb/spices until browned. Add a can of chick peas (drained), a can of cherry tomatoes (whole, liquid included) and mix add enough water to fill the Potjie to just under the top. Cover and place into oven on a small skillet (prevents the 3 legs from toppling in between the grates.....normally this Potjie is use over fire and coals. ) simmer in the oven on low hjeat , about 200. NO FAST boiling! you want a slow , very slow bubbling. Low heat long term cooking. more
Man! That all looks good Bushy! Thats all I need is one more cooking pot. Glad you got one. Was this the first thing you cooked in it?
About 2&1/2 liters. The 3/4 size potjie is good for 2 huge servings or 4 side servings. If you have a family meal planned, id go with a larger size. Sorta.....i heated up oil hot in it with whole cumin , coriander and pepper to give it a bit of a seasoning burn in.
These potjies are not Lodge finish , they are rough hand cast, so expect imperfections. They are meant to be used over fire and coals. Think of them as outdoor slow cookers. Load them up with layers of meat and veggies etc, add tons of liquid and let it slow cook all day long
This is my very first at 29 and I don’t know what took me so long... got it for Christmas and have been using it so much. Thank you guys for all of the pics and words of wisdom! First couple pics were breakfast this morning (best looking omelette I’ve ever made The bottom is a creamy noodle with shrimp, it was freekin delicious!
