Vipavska jota

Vipavska jota is a traditional thick soup or stew originating from the Vipava area. It's usually made with a combination of beans, potatoes, sauerkraut, lard, garlic, flour, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. The sauerkraut is boiled in salted water and mixed with slightly mashed cooked potatoes and half of the beans. The other half of the beans is mashed and added to the soup with garlic sautéed in lard and bay leaves. The sauerkraut mixture is added to the soup, it's seasoned to taste, and then simmered for a few more minutes. If desired, cured pork is added to the soup in order to improve the flavors. Vipavska jota is usually prepared and enjoyed after holidays as a hangover cure.