Slow-Cooked Burmese Pork Stew with Tamarind and Garlic

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-01 · Updated 2026-08-01

A rich and aromatic pork stew slow-cooked in a tamarind and garlic broth, infused with warm spices to create deep Burmese flavors. This Asian-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 140 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes, tamarind paste, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 800 g pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 tbsp tamarind paste
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup for garnish fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 800 g pork shoulder cubes and brown on all sides for 6-8 minutes.
2. Step 2: Add 1 large chopped onion and 6 minced garlic cloves to the pot. Sauté for 5 minutes until onions soften and become translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground turmeric, and 1 cinnamon stick. Cook for 1 minute until spices are fragrant.
4. Step 4: Mix in 3 tbsp tamarind paste, 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Pour in 2 cups water and stir well to combine.
5. Step 5: Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 2 hours until pork is tender and sauce has thickened slightly.
6. Step 6: Remove cinnamon stick. Garnish with 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves before serving with rice or flatbread.