Heart-Healthy Karjalanpaisti

Discover the comforting flavors of Finnish cuisine with this Heart-Healthy Karjalanpaisti, a lighter twist on the traditional Karelian stew. This recipe uses lean cuts of beef and pork to reduce saturated fat while maintaining the dish's signature richness. Slowly simmered with hearty vegetables like carrots and onions, and gently seasoned with bay leaves and whole black peppercorns, the stew develops deep, savory flavors over four hours of slow cooking. Finished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, it's a wholesome, low-fat meal perfect for serving with whole-grain bread or roasted root vegetables. Packed with protein, fiber, and nourishing ingredients, this modern take on Karjalanpaisti brings a healthy balance to your culinary repertoire.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:240 mins

Total Time:260 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 500 grams lean beef chuck, trimmed
• 500 grams lean pork shoulder, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and thickly sliced
• 2 medium yellow onions, sliced
• 750 ml water
• 2 pieces bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Step 1

Trim all visible fat from the beef and pork. Cut the meats into 2-inch chunks.

Step 2

In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Step 3

Add the meat chunks in batches, browning them lightly on all sides. Remove them onto a plate as they brown.

Step 4

Once all the meat is browned, add the carrots and onions to the pot. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onions begin to soften.

Step 5

Return all the browned meat to the pot and pour in the water.

Step 6

Add the bay leaves, black peppercorns, and salt to the pot.

Step 7

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium-high heat.

Step 8

Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cover the pot with a lid, and let it cook for about 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Step 9

Check the seasoning, and adjust the salt if needed.

Step 10

Before serving, remove and discard the bay leaves and garnish the stew with freshly chopped parsley.

Step 11

Serve hot with a side of whole-grain bread or roasted root vegetables for a complete heart-healthy meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2125.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2443.6

Total Fat 153.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 51.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 725mg	0%
Sodium 3141.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 33.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 7.6g	0%
Total Sugars 14.2g
Protein 213.9g	0%

Vitamin D 35IU	0%
Calcium 265.2mg	0%
Iron 18.3mg	0%
Potassium 3904.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 58.3%

Protein: 36.1%

Carbs: 5.6%