This dish is of Portuguese origin, but it unites some classically Asian, sweet and savoury flavours, as well as balichão, a salty shrimp sauce or paste used in a number of Macanese and other Portuguese creole cuisines.
This recipe for carne de porco com ananás (pork meat with pineapple) is a “good example of the Portuguese spice trade in Asia”, says Mozambique-born Portuguese chef Kei de Freitas, owner and head chef of Scotland’s Macau Kitchen. With such vibrant flavours, it’s little wonder this dish is one of the most popular on the Edinburgh-based restaurant’s menu.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat the lard or cooking oil in a frying pan.
2. Sauté the onions, garlic, pepper or chilli and balichão for 5 minutes.
3. Add the cubed pork and stir for 2 minutes, then add the sugar and continue stirring for another minute.
4. Add hot water and cook for around 60 minutes on medium heat, until the water is reduced to a sauce.
5. When there are about 5 minutes remaining, add the pineapple cubes.
6. The dish is ready to be served on a deep plate.
Important note: Freitas says that while yellow sugar can be used as a replacement, palm sugar yields the best taste. He adds that this dish is best served with rice.
