Chef John's Brunswick Stew

1. Stage

Add sliced bacon to a dry soup pot and cook on medium-high until browned and almost fully rendered. After bacon is about halfway cooked, move it to the outside of the pot and set pork chop into the middle of the pot. Cook on each side until lightly browned, about 2 minutes each. Remove pork chop and add chicken thighs, skin side down, and also brown on each side. Browning is optional but it will add more flavor.

2. Stage

Once the bacon has cooked, add onions and salt. Cook and stir until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. If the pot is getting too hot, lower heat to medium. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add diced tomatoes, and stir to deglaze the bottom. Increase heat to high, bring to a simmer, and stir in garlic powder and black pepper.

3. Stage

Add browned pork chop and chicken thighs back to the pot, along withany accumulated juices and water. Bring to a simmer, and reduce heat to medium-low, or low to maintain a steady but gentle simmer. Simmer until meat is very tender and falls of the bone, about 1 1/2 hours.

4. Stage

Remove meat from the pot and transfer to a bowl until cool enough to be handled. Separate the meat from the bone and skin, and add it back to the pot.

5. Stage

Add corn, lima beans, okra, red pepper, and potatoes, and stir to combine. Taste and add more salt if necessary. Stir in brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper. Let the pot come back to a simmer (you can raise heat to do this faster, but reduce back to medium-low to maintain a simmer).

6. Stage

Simmer until potatoes are tender, and everything is cooked to your liking, about 30 minutes more. Add water or chicken broth to the pot if it seems like things are getting too thick, but this is a stew, and should be fairly thick. Once done, stir in vinegar. Taste, adjust salt, and serve with green onions. Chef John