Garlic Pork (Guyanese Christmas Pork Steeped in Vinegar and Garlic)
In short: Cubes of pork steeped in vinegar, garlic, thyme and hot pepper, simmered until tender, then fried until browned, a Guyanese Christmas favorite. It takes about 1 h 40 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 15 min
- Resting
- 24 h
- Total
- 1 h 40 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 410 kcal
Garlic pork is a Christmas morning favorite in Guyana, served beside pepperpot and plait bread. Cubes of pork steep in vinegar with plenty of garlic, thyme and hot pepper, which seasons the meat deeply and gives it a pleasant sharpness. It is then simmered until tender and fried in its own fat until the edges brown. A full day in the fridge is enough to flavor the meat well.
Instructions
- Toss the pork with the vinegar, garlic, thyme, minced pepper, salt and black pepper in a non-metal bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours, stirring once or twice.
- Tip the pork and all of its marinade into a heavy pot and add the water. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer gently for 45 to 55 minutes, until the pork is very tender.
- Uncover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes more, stirring often, until nearly all the liquid has evaporated and the fat begins to sizzle.
- Add the oil, raise the heat to medium-high and fry the pork for 8 to 10 minutes, turning, until the edges are browned and the garlic is golden. Do not let the garlic burn.
- Serve hot or warm with plait bread, rice or pepperpot.
Tips
- Marinate in a glass or ceramic bowl, since vinegar reacts with some metals. Pork shoulder gives the best result, because its fat keeps the meat juicy through the long simmer and the final fry.
- Cool leftovers within 2 hours and keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days, then reheat in a skillet until steaming hot. Do not store the pork under oil at room temperature.
Questions and answers
What is Guyanese garlic pork?
Garlic pork is pork cubes steeped in vinegar, garlic, thyme and hot pepper, then cooked until tender and browned. It is a classic Christmas morning dish.
How long should garlic pork marinate?
Marinate it for 24 hours in the fridge for good flavor, and up to 48 hours for a sharper taste. Always keep it refrigerated.
Is garlic pork spicy?
It has a gentle warmth from a minced wiri wiri or Scotch bonnet pepper. Use half a pepper, or leave it out, for a milder version.
How long does it take to make Garlic Pork (Guyanese Christmas Pork Steeped in Vinegar and Garlic)?
About 1 h 40 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Garlic Pork (Guyanese Christmas Pork Steeped in Vinegar and Garlic)?
About 410 kcal per serving, with 33 g of protein, 2 g of carbohydrates and 30 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 410 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 2 g |
| Fat | 30 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
