Pepper Pork is a traditional Bolivian-inspired dish that blends rich, earthy spices with tender pork, creamy textures, and subtle sweetness. The recipe incorporates bold flavors from crushed red pepper, cinnamon, clove, and saffron, balanced by the nuttiness of peanuts and richness of cream. A hearty one-pot dish, it showcases Bolivia’s diverse culinary heritage, influenced by Spanish, Andean, and tropical flavors. With tomatoes, green bananas, potatoes, and molasses simmered together, this recipe delivers a harmonious balance of sweet, savory, and spicy, making it a unique comfort food with depth and warmth.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 4 onions (medium, coarsely chopped)
- 3 lbs pork shoulder (cut into ¾" chunks)
- 3 tbsp raw rice
- 3 tomatoes (medium, coarsely chopped)
- ¼ cup peanuts (finely chopped )
- ¼ tsp red pepper (crushed )
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- 1½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp saffron
- 10 oz condensed consommé (1 can, , undiluted)
- 1-2 green bananas (quartered)
- 3 potatoes (medium, quartered)
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp molasses
Instructions
Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics
- In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil.
- Sauté garlic and onions for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Step 2: Brown the Pork and Rice
- Add pork chunks and raw rice to the pot.
- Cook until lightly browned.
Step 3: Add Tomatoes and Seasonings
- Stir in chopped tomatoes, crushed red pepper, cinnamon, cloves, saffron, and salt.
- Pour in the undiluted condensed consommé.
- Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
Step 4: Add Bananas and Potatoes
- Stir in the quartered bananas and potatoes.
- Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes.
Step 5: Finish with Cream, Peanuts & Molasses
- Stir in the chopped peanuts, heavy cream, and molasses.
- Simmer until meat and potatoes are tender, about 15 more minutes.
Tips
- Use plantains instead of green bananas for a slightly sweeter profile.
- Substitute pork shoulder with boneless pork butt for similar results.
- Adjust crushed red pepper to control heat level.
- Toast peanuts lightly before adding for deeper flavor.
- Serve over plain rice to stretch portions for a crowd.
- Add bell peppers for extra color and vegetables.
- If saffron is unavailable, use a pinch of turmeric for color (flavor will differ).
- Skim excess fat from the stew surface before finishing with cream.
- Replace heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free variation.
- This dish improves after resting, great for next-day leftovers.
Nutrition
Calories: 560kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 38gFat: 60gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 620mgPotassium: 890mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 120IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 3.2mg