Sorpotel is another East-Indian classic recipe alongside pork vindaloo. A must-have for every wedding and of course festive occasions. Made with bottle masala, garlic, ginger, and chilies this recipe is easier than you think.
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This is ethnic to East-Indian cuisine and different from Goan or Mangalorean sorpotel which are also other authentic recipes originating from their regions.
While all these recipes have the same name, the recipes are very different. Of course, all are equally delicious. So make sure to try them.
It is very easy to spot sarpatel on the dinner table because is a unique dish. The meat is cut into small tiny pieces.
In fact, I remember as a kid when we'd go to a wedding, the first few days would be everybody helping in making the food. One of the chores we young girls were always given was to cut the cooked pork meat for sorpotel. You had to cut it really small otherwise it was a NO, NO.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Pork - for this dish we need not just the meat but also the innards like liver, fat, and heart. That is what gives this dish a different, yet wonderful combination of textures.
- Bottle masala - it wouldn't be sorpotel if you didn't. use bottle masala! So unfortunately there is not substitute for this spice mix.
- Pork blood - I know it does't sound so great but it's true, a good sarpotel has cooked pork blood added to it. I do not use it and my sarpotel is still as authentic so don't worry too much about it.
- Vinegar - homemade plum vinegar made from plum wine is authentic to this dish. But, often I never have access to this so so I use apple cider vinegar.
- Garlic, ginger - of course, you must use fresh. In fact, cutting them into juliennes is the authentic way to add them to this recipe.
Frequently asked questions
Authentic sorpotel is high in pork fat and vinegar. Most importantly there is no water used which is why the shelflife for this dish is 2 to 3 days at room temperature. You can keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Absolutely, you can use this masala and method to make it beef or chicken but make sure to use all the cuts/innards like liver and heart along with the meat.
I love having east Indian handbreads or apas with my sorpotel and vindaloo. At a wedding feast, you will often see it served with fugias or varias alongside the popular wedding rice with fruit and nuts.
I like to serve some gawar fugat or green beans fugat on the side.
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Ingredients
- 1 kg (2 lb) Pork cut to large chunks
- 6 oz (170 g) Pork liver cut to large chunks
- 6 oz (170 g) Pork heart keep in large pieces
- ½ tsp turmeric powder haldi
- 10 Garlic cloves thinly slices
- 1 inch ( ) Fresh Ginger thinly sliced
- 3 Green Chilies thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp Cooking oil
- 2 tbsp Bottle masala
- ½ cup Vinegar
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Pepper
- 1 tbsp Dried pork blood (optional - a traditional ingredient)
Instructions
- Par-boil the pork - Place the pork, heart, and liver in a heavy bottom pot. Season with salt, pepper, and turmeric. Place it on medium heat and stir-fry until no longer pink adding half the vinegar. Pro tip - it is easier to cut meat into smaller pieces once it is par-boiled so cook on medium to low heat and do not add water. The meat will release some of its juices as well.
- Cut the pork - Remove from the heat and let it cool to almost warm. Then, cut the meat into small ½-inch pieces. Pro tip - you can do this step a day ahead and keep the chopped meat in the fridge.
Saute
- In a heavy-bottom cooking pot add oil and fry the ginger, garlic, chiles for 2 minutes. Then add the bottle masala and fry a minute more on low heat. Pro tip - ensure the heat is low as we do not want to burn the bottom masala spice mix.
- next, add the chopped meat, followed by the remaining vinegar. Cover and cook until the meat is cooked through. Pro tip - if you are using the dried pork blood you can add it in along with the chopped meat. I do not use it.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more vinegar is necessary
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Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Jenny
Oh this looks good. I love sarportel - Thanks will have to try soon.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Jenny
June
I love East India sorpotel and vindaloo very much but didn't know how to make it. I made this yesterday and everyone loved it. My first attempt. Thank you for the clear instructions. I'm going to make vindaloo next week for my husbands birthday
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, June. Yes, very easy to make. Let me know how the vindaloo turns out too .
Adolf creado
Veena From one EI to another I congratulate and thank you for posting our Ei recipes.dont stop
Iv just returned from Bombay my birth place and was lucky to have eaten some of the most delicious Ei dishes at my aunts house.Many people around the world do not know about us eIs..
Keep going veena..good on you.i can help.
Rgds
Adolf creado
Perth
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much, Adolf. I am from Bombay too. Yes, it is true that not many people know about us.
Melroy Drego
Hi Veena,
Thanks so much for publishing these recipes. I'm east indian too and hope to be able to make them soon (life being so busy). It's great to have this as an ever-accessible archive.
One suggestion. I couldn't find a link to the videos you mentioned. It would be great if you could embed them in the page with the recipes.
(email me if you need help embedding).
Cheers
Mel
Veena Azmanov
Hey Melroy, Welcome, and thank you for the lovely comment. I have not started making videos for this blog. I currently do videos for my other blog Veena Azmanov.
The videos mentioned are in reference to that blog. I will change the bio accordingly. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Ainsley Valladares
Hi Veena, I recently discovered you and your fantastic culinary website. I am so proud of you an East Indian as myself from good old Bombay now in Ontario Canada. My grandfather Albert Misquitta was the editor of the Bombay East Indian magazine way back. Like you, my mother too was into cooking, baking, etc. Though not on such a scale. However I want to say I find your food website , especially East Indian focus to be of such great variety and choice. I will be using several of them soon. I wish you and your endeavours great and continued success. God bless you !!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much for such a lovely comment, Ainsley. It is so lovely to meet you.
I do a lot of non-Indian cooking and baking as well as cake decorating on my other blogs but it always bothered me that my kids may never know about me as an East Indian.
I knew a blog might just be the right motivation and method to keep it for future generations. It is nice to see people are appreciating it. Thanks
Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas Ainsley.