Pork Vindaloo (or any meat of your choice)

Vindaloo is not just a curry… It’s an experience!!

My happiness is when I see a big bowl of this bright vibrant curry with fiery, yet perfectly seasoned meat morsles! Pleasantly hot + Tingling tangy + Slightly sweet = Vindaloo.

I love the the fact that once you master how to make the base of this curry, the rest is super easy. I can add pretty much any protein to vindaloo paste and marinate it for a few hours. Then cook it slow and low for hours and… DONE! BTW, there is a little history to this one…

The story behind Vindaloo

The story of vindaloo curry is as piquant as its taste. While its origin is in a far away land from where it now resides, it showcases global integration. Ingredients and culinary cultures from different continents come together to evolve into what it is now… The beloved and famous Vindaloo.

This is a traditional recipe, very popular and embraced as their very own by the Catholic community of Goa, a state on India’s western coast.

However, its origins lie 5,500 miles to the west, in Portugal. From there, an earlier variant of the dish made its way to Goa with Portuguese explorers in the early 15th century.

Portuguese sailors used to preserve pork for their journey to India in garlic and vinegar. They used vinegar to preserve the meat not only on ship, but also in India’s hot climate. Many Goan dishes have the tang and tartness of white wine or palm vinegar.

Vindaloo, or more locally referred to as Vindalho, evolved from the Portuguese term “carne de vinha d’ alhos”, meaning meat marinated and cooked in wine vinegar and garlic. Over the years, it’s been “Indianized” by Goan cooks by substituting palm vinegar for red wine vinegar and adding a whole lot of other spices to the original red chili peppers.

Check out our collection of favorite Curry Recipes!

So what’s the final result? Curry that tingles the tongue with peppers, cloves and other spices, rather than the one dimensional heat of chili powder.

This dish got popular not only with locals, but the Britishers who ruled India. So much so that it made its way to Britain and evolved into the famous “reach for your water jug” hot British Curry House vindaloos.

But authentic Indian vindaloos are not head spinningly hot like those of British Curry house fame. Instead they’re a harmonious balance of sweet, sour and spice. As I said before, a pleasantly spiced curry.

Fun fact: How beloved is Vindaloo in Britain?

So much so, in the 1998 World Cup the ‘unofficial’ anthem of the English football team fans was “Vindaloo-Vindaloo, we’re gonna score one more than you.”

What meat to cook with?

I make this curry with pork, chicken, beef, lamb, goat or even shrimp. The method is the same. If I’m using chicken, I use either a whole chicken cut into pieces or skinless, bone-in, or boneless thighs, as dark meat becomes tender and falls off the bone in curries.

For beef, I choose fattier, marbled cuts like chuck, which is perfect for stews.

Today I feel like cooking with pork. Pork shoulder or butt is ideal for vindaloo, as it cooks low and slow. The curry takes on more depth and richness as the fat renders into the gravy. That being said, for a leaner dish you can also use loin.

Ingredients Needed

• Pork
• Vindaloo paste – Dry red chili peppers (I am using Kashmiri red chilis, which are mild), fresh red chilis (optional, mainly I am using them for some heat), cumin seeds, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black peppercorns, turmeric, vinegar, garlic, ginger.
• Onions
• Bay leaves
• Salt
• Sugar
• Cashews – As a garnish.
• Cilantro – Also as a garnish.

Pork Vindaloo Recipe

How delicious your curry will end up and how it will look all depends on its base, and that’s the vindaloo paste. Click here for the detailed recipe for your very own quick and easy Vindaloo paste.

I start by dry roasting Kashmiri red chilies in a skillet on medium-high heat for a minute or two until they become fragrant, making sure not to burn them. Then, I move them to a blender.

Next, I dry roast cumin seeds, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and peppercorns together for 2-3 minutes and add them to the blender. If I miss some spices, it’s okay; it will still taste great.

If I don’t have whole spices but have the powdered versions, I use those instead, but I don’t roast the powder.

I add fresh red chilies (if I’m using them), ginger, garlic, turmeric, and vinegar to the blender and blend everything until smooth. It takes some time, but I want a fine paste. I use a tiny bit of water if needed. My magic bullet blender does the job perfectly.

Preparing the meat

First I cut the pork into 1.5-2 inch chunks.

Then I marinate the pieces in the paste for at least 4-5 hours, or overnight for best results. You really want those vindaloo flavors to seep into the meat.

When I’m ready to cook, I heat oil in a large pan, like a Dutch oven, over medium heat. I sauté finely chopped onions with salt and bay leaves until they’re golden brown, stirring frequently. This takes about 10-12 minutes.

I add in the marinated pork and stir it well. Then, I cover the pan and let it cook for 5 minutes.

I add in a cup of water and a little sugar. Then, I cover the pan, lower the heat to medium-low, and cook until the meat is melt-in-your-mouth tender… 🙂

Somewhere in between, I taste for seasonings such as salt and sugar and even heat. If I feel it needs more tang or heat, I add extra vindaloo paste to the gravy.

The pork takes about an hour to an hour and half to two hours, as it’s cooked slow and low. From time to time you need to check up on this one and give it a stir to make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom. Vindaloos are quite thick gravy, so unless it is sticking to the bottom, you don’t need to add more water.

Most people stop here, but I want to make it a little special, as it comes from Goa. Cashew nuts are very famous and locally grown in Goa. I give a final touch to the dish by tempering it with fried cashews.

I plate the pork vindaloo to a serving bowl. I like to heat a little ghee or oil in a small pan and, once it’s piping hot, add in some whole cashews. I stir them for a minute or so to give them a little color, then pour the cashews and ghee over the vindaloo. This tastes and looks awesome.

Can I make it in the crockpot?

Yes, it would be great, and super tender.

First, I sauté onions with bay leaves and salt in a skillet until they’re golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.

Then, I add the onion mixture to the crockpot. I add the marinated pork, water, and sugar, and stir well. I cook it for 4-5 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low.

If you want it quick, try Instant Pot

Though I usually prefer it to cook vindaloo slow and low in a dutch oven, you are looking at a couple of hours to finish the meal. If you want it in less than an hour, Instant Pot is your answer.

I press the Sauté mode and cook the onions with the bay leaf and salt in a little oil until they get a nice brown color, about 10 minutes.

Then, I add the marinated pork, 1.5 to 2 cups of water, and sugar, mixing everything well. I secure the lid, close the pressure valve, and cook for 30 minutes at high pressure.

After that, I naturally release the pressure. I open the lid and check the consistency of the gravy. If I want a thicker gravy, I press the Sauté button again and cook for an additional 10 minutes to boil off the liquids and reduce the gravy to a stew-like consistency.

Serving Suggestions

My first choice? A piping hot plateful of basmati rice. So good.

Of course, some Indian naan, rotis or parathas go equally well.

Oh and how I love some nice chilled beer with this fiery one.

If going low carb, some cauliflower rice.

Vindaloo… it’s not as popular here in the States as I have seen in Britain and Australia. But don’t shy away from its infamous spicy reputation. There is nothing wrong with preferring mild curry. In fact some of the best tasting curries merely tingle the taste buds. Go easy on spices and you can still enjoy the flavors.

And then some of you are like me. There is also nothing wrong with looking for some HEAT in your curry. Go and make it perfect just how you like it. After all, it’s going to be your Vindaloo… your Experience!

Pork Vindaloo, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

If you love curries, try these other great recipes!
Chicken Masala
Trini Curry Chicken
Pork Menudo
Chicken Asado
Chicken Caldereta
Yellow Dal Tadka
South African Chicken Curry
Japanese Beef Curry

Pork Vindaloo (or any meat of your choice)

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Do you love curry? This authentic Pork Vindaloo from the Indian state of Goa is sure to tickle your taste buds. You can make it hot or mild, but it's always packed with flavor!

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Ingredients

For curry

• 3 lbs Pork shoulder, butt or loin
• 3 large onions, finely chopped
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 Tbsp oil
• Salt to taste

For Vindaloo paste

• 8-10 dry red chili peppers (we used whole Kashmiri red chili peppers)
• 1-2 fresh red chili peppers (optional)
• 4 tsp cumin seeds
• 4 tsp coriander seeds
• 1.5 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 inch cinnamon
• 6-7 cardamom (optional, if available)
• 8-10 cloves
• 2 tsp peppercorns
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 8-10 large garlic cloves
• 2 inch ginger
• ½ cup white vinegar

For garnishing (optional)

• 2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
• 2 Tbsp ghee or oil
• 3 Tbsp whole cashews

Instructions

1. First make the paste. Dry roast whole dried red chili peppers in a small skillet over medium high heat for 2-3 minutes. Let cool, cut into pieces and transfer to a blender. Dry roast the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and peppercorns together for 3-4 minutes until they get fragrant and transfer them to the blender. Add in fresh red chili peppers, ginger, garlic, turmeric along with vinegar and blend it into smooth paste. If needed add a couple of Tbsp of water.
2. Cut the pork into 2 inch chunks.
3. Mix ¾ of the vindaloo paste with the pork. Make sure it coats all over and marinade for 4-6 hours or overnight.
4. Heat oil in a dutch oven or heavy bottom pan on medium high heat. Add chopped onions, bay leaves and a little salt. Sauté till the onion is caramelized to a golden brown color.
5. Add in marinated pork and sauté for 5 minutes. Add in sugar and one cup of water. Mix well. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover and cook until meat is tender. Check and stir every 10-15 minutes to ensure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
6. The meat takes and hour and half to two hours to get nice and tender. After one hour of cooking, taste for seasoning and heat. If you need more heat or flavor, add in the remaining vindaloo paste to your liking. Adjust the salt if needed as well.
7. (Optional) Heat 2 tbsp ghee or oil in small pot till piping hot. Add in cashews and stir them for a minute till they get some color. Pour the cashews along with ghee or oil over individual servings of vindaloo. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or rotis.

Crockpot method

1. Prepare Vindaloo paste as mentioned above.
2. Marinate pork with 3/4 of the vindaloo paste for few hours or overnight.
3. Heat oil in a pan and sauté onions along, bay leaves and a little salt till the onions are golden brown. Add onion mixture into crock pot.
4. Stir in marinated pork along with a cup of water, sugar and cook 4-5 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low. Towards last couple of hours, taste the sauce and adjust the salt and seasoning by adding more vindaloo paste to your liking.
5. (Optional) Heat 2 tbsp ghee or oil in small pot till piping hot. Add in cashews and stir them for a minute till they get some color. Pour the cashews along with ghee or oil over individual servings of vindaloo. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or rotis.

Instant pot method

1. Make the vindaloo paste as mentioned above and marinate pork for a few hours to overnight.
2. Set instant pot to Saute mode and cook the onions, bay leaves and a little salt till the onion gets a nice golden brown color.
3. Add in marinated pork along with 1.5 to 2 cups of water and sugar and mix well. Secure the lid, close the pressure valve and cook for 30 minutes at high pressure.
4. Naturally release pressure. Open the lid. Check for the consistency of the gravy. If you want a little thicker gravy, press Saute mode and cook for an additional 10 minutes to cook off the liquids and reduce the gravy to a stew like consistency.
5. (Optional) Heat 2 tbsp ghee or oil in small pot till piping hot. Add in cashews and stir them for a minute till they get some color. Pour the cashews along with ghee or oil over individual servings of vindaloo. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or rotis.
   

Notes

1. If using beef, use a fattier cut like chuck. As with pork, cut into 2 inch cubes.
2. If using chicken, cut the pieces into big chunks.
3. Lamb and goat can also be used. Again, large 2 inch chunks work best.
4. Leftovers: Vindaloo, like any other curry dish, is awesome after it sits. It’s great as leftovers. Just store it in airtight container for 4-5 days in your refrigerator. It also freezes beautifully up to 3 months. Great meal prep option if you like your curries.

Nutrition Information

Yield 8 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 631Total Fat 48gSaturated Fat 16gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 28gCholesterol 161mgSodium 211mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 41g

Nutrition information calculated by Nutritionix.

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Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.