Anishi Pork

Anishi Pork

Anishi Pork

Dried, pressed taro leaf cakes (anishi) cooked with pork — the taro leaves are blanched, pressed, and dried in the sun until they compact into dense, dark-green blocks that are then simmered with pork pieces, dried chilli, and ginger. An Ao Naga speciality with an earthy, slightly bitter flavour from the fermented leaf; the anishi dissolves into the sauce as it cooks.

Cuisines

Naga

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 45 min Total: 60 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

300 grams pork belly, cut into cubes
2 pieces anishi (fermented yam leaves)
2 tablespoons mustard oil
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tomato, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 inch ginger, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1 teaspoon black pepper powder

Instructions

  1. 1 Heat mustard oil in a pan over medium heat.
  2. 2 Add chopped onions and sauté until golden brown.
  3. 3 Add minced garlic and ginger, and sauté for another minute.
  4. 4 Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they soften.
  5. 5 Add the pork cubes and sauté until they are browned on all sides.
  6. 6 Stir in the red chili powder, salt, and black pepper powder.
  7. 7 Add the anishi and mix well with the pork.
  8. 8 Pour in the water, cover the pan, and let it simmer for 30-35 minutes or until the pork is tender.
  9. 9 Check seasoning and adjust if necessary before serving.

Tips

Anishi can be quite strong in flavor, so adjust the quantity to your taste.