Slow Cooker Burmese Pork Stew with Ginger and Garlic

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-19 · Updated 2026-06-19

A comforting Burmese-style pork stew simmered slowly with fragrant ginger, garlic, and earthy spices for tender, flavorful meat. This Asian-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes, onion, sliced, garlic cloves, smashed for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, 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

• 2 lbs pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 6 garlic cloves, smashed
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger, sliced
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• to taste salt

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 lbs pork shoulder cubes and brown on all sides for 6-8 minutes.
2. Step 2: Transfer the pork to a slow cooker. Add 1 large sliced onion, 6 smashed garlic cloves, and 2 tbsp sliced fresh ginger.
3. Step 3: Sprinkle 1 tsp turmeric powder and 1 tsp ground black pepper over the pork and aromatics.
4. Step 4: Pour in 2 tbsp fish sauce and 1 1/2 cups water, then stir gently to combine.
5. Step 5: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours until the pork is fork-tender and the flavors meld beautifully.
6. Step 6: Season with salt to taste, then garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro before serving with steamed rice.