Meat cooked in spices is so popular among Christians in Kerala; it has become pretty much a part of tradition for many locals. Buying fresh meat straight from the butcher and prepping it with care is a Sunday ritual enjoyed in almost every home across the state.
Be it lamb, beef or pork, the basics of cooking this dish is the same. I've opted for pork fry today, which is very similar to the beef fry I shared couple of weeks ago.
This Kerala pork fry recipe (pork ularthiyathu) provides very tender pieces of pork perfectly cooked in spices. As with the type of pork, I always go for cuts minus the fat. No excuses. The trimmed cuts give a slight crispiness to the meat during the final stir frying stage.
Although this pork fry sounds like an elaborated dish, making them is super simple. It won't take too long either. And that's what I love most about this recipe.
The spices are added to the meat at two different stages. First, when the meat is cooked in the pressure cooker. Second, when pork is stir fried with the spices. It adds that extra much needed flavor to the dish. Trust me, it works like magic.
One important thing before we go to the recipe. Avoid overcooking the meat at any cost. Enjoy this Kerala pork stir fry or pork ularthiyathu with rice, chappathis, rotis or appam!
Start with cooking pork in the pressure cooker. Place pork along with onions, green chilies, turmeric, coriander, garam masala, black pepper, ginger, garlic, white vinegar, curry leaves and salt in a pressure cooker. Cover with lid and place over high heat. Cook until the 6th or 7th whistle. Remove from heat. After steam escapes, open the lid, and place over medium-high heat. Simmer until all water dries up. Set aside.
Place a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Heat oil. Splutter mustard seeds. Add cloves, fennel seeds, cardamom pods and bay leaves. Fry. Add shallots, dried red chilies, and a sprig of curry leaves. Fry until onions are browned.
Add pork. Mix well. Stir fry for 4-5 minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves, if you like.
More Kerala Recipes
- Kerala Beef Fry
- Beef Pepper Fry or Beef Kurumulakittathu
- Kerala Duck Curry
- Spicy Lamb Stir Fry
- Kerala Mussels Fry or Kallumakkaya Fry or Kadukka Fry
- Kerala Prawns Fry
Kerala Pork Fry (Pork Ularthiyathu)
Ingredients
- 1 kg pork fillet cut into cubes
- 1 large onion sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes chopped
- 9-10 garlic cloves chopped
- 3 cm fresh ginger chopped
- 2-3 green chilies slit
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 3 tablespoon ground coriander
- 3 teaspoon garam masala
- ½ - 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 2 teaspoon white vinegar optional
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- 2-3 cloves
- 2-3 cardamom pods split
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ cup sliced shallots or red onions
- 2 dried red chilies broken into small pieces
- 2 sprigs of curry leaves
- Salt to taste
- Coriander leaves to garnish
Instructions
- Place pork, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, ground turmeric, ground coriander, garam masala, ground black pepper, red chili powder, green chilies, a sprig of curry leaves, white vinegar (if using), and salt in a pressure cooker over high heat. Cook until the sixth or seventh whistle.
- When the steam has escaped, open the lid, and place the cooker over medium-high heat. Simmer until all the water dries up. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Splutter mustard seeds. Fry fennel seeds, cardamom pods, cloves and bay leaves until aromatic. Add shallots, dried red chilies and a sprig of curry leaves. Saute, stirring, until the shallots are browned.
- Stir in cooked pork. Sauté, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes. To serve, garnish with coriander leaves.
- Serve Kerala pork fry with rice or any flatbread.
Nutrition
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kushi says
I am hungry looking at this pic 🙂 delicious, YUM
Traditionallymodernfood says
Being vegetarian I am not familiar with this but looking at the dish you can say it will taste delicious
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
This looks droolicious!
sneha says
Since am also a keralite and (achayathi )..love this recipe.. one of my favorite... 🙂 Thanks for sharing your ingredients.. i recommend wash this pork in rice water,,. it will flavor what to say ..!!! good
Nish Kitchen says
Thanks Sneha for the tip. Will try it next time 🙂
Elizabeth says
The pork came out so tasty and full of flavor. Yummy!