In summer, my mother would stock up provisions for the monsoon season when fresh produce is scarce. She prepared dishes with salted fish or salted pork for the family. This chilli fry with salted pork was one of my favourite. The meat cut into cubes, washed and soaked in hot water to get rid of excess salt before cooking. Enhanced with onions, tamarind water and other ingredients including dried red chillies for a kick of spice to balance the sourness. Served as a side dish, a bite of the flavourful meat with a hint of salt along with the crunch from the onions is absolutely pleasing to the palate and irresistible.
Before refrigeration, salt was used to cure and preserve meat. It draws out water from the meat, which also acts as a preservative. Thus, preventing molding and rotting, while penetrating and flavouring the meat. Besides salting, my mother-in-law also applies turmeric powder and later, dries the meat in the sun. It is good to have salted pork on hand to cook up quick and easy dishes or use as a base to enrich any, when needed.
Before refrigeration, salt was used to cure and preserve meat. It draws out water from the meat, which also acts as a preservative. Thus, preventing molding and rotting, while penetrating and flavouring the meat. Besides salting, my mother-in-law also applies turmeric powder and later, dries the meat in the sun. It is good to have salted pork on hand to cook up quick and easy dishes or use as a base to enrich any, when needed.
Goan Salted Pork Chilli Fry
(Serves 6)
Ingredients:
1/2 kg salted pork (cut into cubes)
1 large onion (around 2 cups, chopped into big pieces)
4 to 5 small red dried chillies
5 dried kokum petals
1 cup tamarind water
4 large cloves of garlic (crushed)
1-inch ginger (sliced)
freshly cracked black pepper
salt
Method:
Wash and soak pork pieces in hot water for two hours. Change water every 30 minutes.
Transfer to a pan, add garlic, ginger, red chillies, kokum and tamarind water. Cover with the lid and cook till pork cubes are three-fourth done. The liquid will be completely absorbed at this time. Stir in the onions and simmer on medium heat until slight soft with a crunch. Taste for seasonings, add pepper and salt.
Serve hot.
Note:
(Serves 6)
Ingredients:
1/2 kg salted pork (cut into cubes)
1 large onion (around 2 cups, chopped into big pieces)
4 to 5 small red dried chillies
5 dried kokum petals
1 cup tamarind water
4 large cloves of garlic (crushed)
1-inch ginger (sliced)
freshly cracked black pepper
salt
Method:
Wash and soak pork pieces in hot water for two hours. Change water every 30 minutes.
Transfer to a pan, add garlic, ginger, red chillies, kokum and tamarind water. Cover with the lid and cook till pork cubes are three-fourth done. The liquid will be completely absorbed at this time. Stir in the onions and simmer on medium heat until slight soft with a crunch. Taste for seasonings, add pepper and salt.
Serve hot.
Note:
- Salted Pork (Goan Style) recipe, click here.
