Description
A deliciously shareable Haitian dish.
Ingredients
Scale
For the griot:
- 1 Scotch bonnet or habanero chile
- Epis (Haitian seasoning base, see below)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 green pepper, diced
- ¼ cup parsley + more for serving
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp ground black pepper
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- ¼ cup cider vinegar
- Juice of 1 orange
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Juice of ½ lime
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 lb pork shoulder, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
- 2 tbsp coconut oil or olive oil, more as needed
For the epis:
- 10 parsley sprigs
- 2 celery stalks
- 2 cups cilantro
- 2 green bell peppers
- 3 scallions
- 2 chicken bouillon cubes
- 5 thyme sprigs
- 3 garlic heads
- Juice of 1 lime
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tbsp vinegar
Instructions
For the griot:
- Quarter and chop the chiles then add epis, onion, bell pepper, parsley, salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic into a heavy pot with a lid. Mix in vinegar, juices, and Worcestershire sauce. Add the pork. Cover pot and refrigerate overnight.
- The next day, remove from the fridge at least no more than 3 hours before cooking. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. On stovetop, heat on high and bring to a simmer then cover and transfer to the oven. Cook, stirring occasionally, until meat is very tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- Remove meat from the pot with slotted spoon, allowing excess liquid to drip back into the pot. Pick any veggies and herbs off the meat, and then transfer meat to a baking sheet. Drizzle meat with 2 tablespoons oil and a pinch of salt and toss to coat. To make a sauce, strain cooking liquid through a mesh sieve to remove solids. Return sauce to pot and simmer over high heat until reduced by half, 25 to 30 minutes.
I love to deep-fry the griot, but it gets pretty messy, so here is the broil method:
- Fire-up the broiler and then add the meat, tossing occasionally until meat is evenly browned, about 5 to 10 minutes. To serve, drizzle pork with oil, crown with sauce, and garnish with parsley and thyme. Serve with rice and a side of pikliz.
For the epis:
- Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Store in mason jars and refrigerate. Great for marinating and adding life to any savory dish, and also can be used as a dipping sauce.