Mulgikapsad

Mulgikapsad, also written Mulgi kapsad, is an Estonian dish of sauerkraut stewed slowly with lard, meat and pearl barley. The meat is mostly pork, and the long stewing softens the cabbage into a tender, savory, mildly sour mass. The dish takes its name from the Mulgi region of southern Estonia and is counted on the list of Estonian cultural heritage, so it is often treated as one of the national foods of Estonia. The pearl barley is the feature that sets it apart from other cabbage and pork stews of northern Europe. According to the source article, the barley is added not for its flavor but as an inexpensive way to add nutritional value and to change the look of the dish.