How To Make Spiced Tomato Pork Stew
How To Prepare The Pork and Vegetable Mixture
After preparing the ingredients, you can follow these easy steps to make the pork and vegetable mixture:
- Fry the pork chop cuts in a stew pot until golden brown, then add in the minced onions and cook them together until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.
- Add in the garlic and cook for a minute. Don’t forget to scrape from the bottom of the pot to get all the flavors.
- You can now add in your chopped vegetables and seasonings, including Worcestershire and ketchup. Stir it together until the pork and vegetables are well coated with the seasoning.
How To Cook The Spiced Tomato Pork Stew
Once you have a fragrant pork and vegetable mixture, you can add fresh and canned tomatoes, chicken stock, and remaining seasonings. Stir and let it boil. Once it boils, lower down the heat to let it simmer for half an hour or until the sauce reduces. Stir it occasionally, scraping from the bottom. Give it a quick taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can serve it with steamed white rice and garnish it with some fresh parsley. Serve warm and enjoy!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Pork Chops - since the pork will be cut into bite-sized pieces, we recommend getting boneless pork chops for easier preparation.
- Fresh Tomatoes - choose ripe and plump tomatoes for added nutritional value and mild acidity.
- Crushed Tomatoes - you can either choose crushed or diced canned tomatoes. Canned tomatoes make a great tomato base with their sweet and acidic tomato flavor, and they are actually the best for cooking.
- Vegetable Mix - we’re using carrots, potatoes, and celery for this tomato stew recipe, and they’re the typical vegetables you can find in stews. In French, this is called mirepoix of diced celery, onions, and carrots.
- Onion and Garlic - a flavor booster or the so-called aromatics. We recommend using fresh onion and garlic rather than its powdered forms.
- Chicken Stock - although you can easily substitute this with water, chicken stock gives a more savory flavor and enhances your stew. If you have some homemade chicken broth, you can also use it. If you want to make your own, you can use this recipe: Chicken Stock or Chicken Broth.
- Worcestershire Sauce - adds depth to the flavor of the pork with its tangy, salty, and sweet taste. It is also packed with umami flavor that will make this pork stew recipe more flavorful.
- Ketchup - this pantry staple can be handy and flavorful to add in tomato-based dishes. You can use your favorite brand or use a Homemade Ketchup.
- Bay Leaves - adds great aroma and a mild herbal flavor to stews and soups. Don’t forget to take it out before serving.
- Seasonings - We used Italian seasoning, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper in this recipe. These seasonings add flavor and body to this tomato stew. You can adjust it to your preference.
Tips & Suggestions
- Opt for pork shoulder or sirloin; it’s the best option for cooking low and slow. Even though you will cut the meat off the bone, toss the bone into the stew while cooking. Cooking with the bone will only add flavor to your stew. Simply remove it before serving.
- This pork stew is best served over rice or roast potatoes. You can browse through our collection of best side dishes for stews and choose your favorite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Possible to Overcook Pork?
Opposite to what you might have thought, it is absolutely possible to overcook pork. If you cook it for too long it will turn tough, chewy, and dry. Completely opposite to what you want in a stew. So don’t cook longer than recommended.
Do I Need to Tenderize the Pork?
It is not necessary to tenderize pork for stews. But if you want to, you can lightly pound the meat with a mallet, or marinate it in lemon juice or vinegar brine before cooking. Acidic marinades help to break down proteins in meat and are great for tenderizing.
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