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Pork vindaloo
Soak the dried chillies in the vinegar for 30 minutes, or warm them together for 5 minutes, until soft. Blend with the garlic, ginger, cumin, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon and turmeric to a smooth, thick paste, adding a spoon of water only if the blades stick.
Questions about this dish
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Pork vindaloo take?
10 hr 20 min all in — 30 min prep, 1 hr 50 min cook, 8 hr rest. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 6 people. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
Hot.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Nut-free.
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
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What equipment do I need?
Blender, Mixing bowl, Dutch oven.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 2 tsp.
How much vinegar?
120 ml (Goan palm vinegar, or cider vinegar) of Vinegar.
What can I use instead?
Pork shoulder → Pork belly, or lamb or chicken thigh. Belly is richer and very Goan. Lamb and chicken vindaloos are made too, but they are restaurant habits; chicken needs only 40 minutes. Kashmiri chillies → Mild dried red chillies plus 1 tbsp paprika. Keeps the colour without making it much hotter.
What should I watch for?
Marinate in glass, ceramic or stainless steel. Vinegar reacts with aluminium and gives the meat a metallic taste.
Any tips from this recipe?
Kashmiri chillies give colour with moderate heat. For a hotter vindaloo, add three or four small hot dried chillies to the paste. Skim excess fat from the top after resting rather than trimming the pork beforehand. The fat carries the spice.
Can I prepare this ahead?
Rub the pork with the salt and all the paste in a glass or ceramic bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, ideally overnight.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.