I have had difficulty coming up with an amusing anecdote to go with this one… no stories of drunken shenanigans with carnival folk… no nothing really. I guess I could tell you about my day but as it has only consisted of mowing the lawn and putting a lemongrass plant in the ground I suspect that would have the potential to bore the ears off a field of corn. Hmmm, I am clearly grasping for a little ray of hope right now. But as nothing has presented itself for my brain to convey to you through the power in my fingertips that our god thou-art-in-internet-heaven has bestowed on me, a recipe is what you shall receive. A recipe and nothing more.

(SORT OF) SRI LANKAN PORK AND BLACK PEPPER CURRY

This is based on a recipe by Peter Kuruvita (who’s styles I have been digging at this point in time) from his series on SBS. He uses 3 teaspoons of black pepper and a full teaspoon of ground chilli in the marinade, plus 2 chopped green chilies when cooking it off. I’ve toned it down a bit so my kids will eat it, but have a go if you like it hot

Marinade
1kg pork shoulder, chopped into 2-3cm cubes, fat and all
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 tablespoon roasted curry powder
2 black cardamom pods
1 cinnamon quill, broken
1 sprig of curry leaf (fresh from the bush out the front as always. Gotta love that curry plant)
½ teaspoon ground chilli
1 teaspoon salt

To cook
1 brown onion, chopped
1 cup peeled and chopped eggplant (I peel it so the kids don’t know it’s there and it breaks down and thickens the curry and adds a nice creaminess)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 thumbsized knob ginger, chopped
1 tablespoon tamarind pulp
1 tablespoon ghee or oil
1lt water

• Marinate pork for 1 hour so it can get to know the spices, have a little party, a couple of drinks – you know the deal
• Add all “to cook” ingredients except tamarind and water to a pot and cook out for a couple of minutes until softened and aromatic… as apposed to acrobatic… which would have them jumping about all over the place and not flavouring your food like they should be
• Now add pork and eggplant and cook out for another few minutes
• Add tamarind and water and simmer for 45 or so minutes until the meat is tender and the gravy has thickened

RICE
Cook some rice or buy some already cooked from someone who knows how. Asian or Indian take-aways are usually a good spot to start

ROTI
2 cups plain flour
1 tablespoon melted ghee or butter
1 ½ cups warm water
A pinch of salt
• Combine all ingredients and kneed until the dough is feeling like a dough… probs a minute or so
• For into 3-4 balls and rest dough for half and hour
• Press or roll into 5mm thick flat bread type things
• Brush with melted butter or oil and fry over medium heat for a minute each side

CARROT SAMBAL
1 
large carrot, grated
1 
green chilli, finely chopped
1 
small onion, finely diced
2 
limes, juiced
1 
clove garlic, very finely chopped
½ cup
 shredded coconut
2-3 
curry leaves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
• Combine all ingredients and allow to sit for at least 15 minutes for the flavours to amalgamate