Lewes Hungarian Society

How to make a bogrács pot

Cut 3 lengths of 25mm copper tube (standard water pipe) about 1 metre long. (The one in the picture has 2 copper legs and one mild steel – just because that’s what was available). Flatten one end of each with a hammer to about 40mm from the end. Drill a hole near the top of the flattened section (about 4 or 5mm diameter). Feed some fairly thick wire (easy) or an old key ring (more difficult) through the 3 holes to join the 3 pipes together. Fix some chain to hang from the wire. Use a butcher's hook (obtainable from Bunces in Lewes and any hardware or kitchen shop) and hang the pot from the hook. 8 bricks (not illustrated!) are needed to contain the fire. Bogrács  relies on some wood smoke, so bring plenty of coarse cut logs or chippings.  Charcoal is needed to keep the heat going over a long period. Heat for your pot is adjusted by moving the 3 legs in or out. The pipe doesn’t get hot. You can also raise and lower the hook on the chain. If you don’t have a pot with a handle, you could adapt an old saucepan by drilling and fixing 3 lengths of chain around the rim. A lid would probably be useful.