Griot is one dish that you will find in every Haitian household. It is served at every event, be it casual or formal. It is said to be one of the favorite dishes among old and young generations. There is a saying in Haitian households that there will always be someone asking for a griot at an event. 

In West Africa, the griot is a dish that enjoys amazingly high social status. According to a theory, this dish is named after these African storytellers because Haitian gariyo was reserved for the highest-class Haitian citizens and for tourists due to the price of this cut of pork.

Delicious Haitian Griot Recipe! 

A griot is a dish that combines pieces of pork that have been marinated, boiled, and fried in oil or roasted in the oven. Many people choose to roast marinated pork instead of frying it. This is done to avoid excess fat involved with frying. It is traditionally served with pikliz and you need not worry because we have added on how you can make this dish along with its side. 

The key to a tasty and delicious griot is to use the correct amount of lime juice and sour orange juice. However, the main problem in achieving the authentic taste is that finding fresh sour oranges can be a tough task. Additionally, it will depend on where you live. 

So, if you don’t have your hands on fresh sour oranges, you can use sour orange juices that are sold in bottles in food stores. With the help of these juices, you will be able to make this dish easily. So, let’s see how you can make this delicious Haitian recipe at home. 

Griot Recipe
Griot Recipe

Quick Stats 

Prep time: 45 minutes 

Cooking time: 35 minutes 

Servings: 4 serves 

Ingredients 

For Griot 

  • 3 lb pork shoulder(1.5 kg), cubed
  • salt, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper, to taste
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 shallots, chopped
  • 5 scallions, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 6 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 cube chicken bouillon
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 oranges, juiced
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 10 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • ½ bunch of fresh parsley
  • 1 scotch bonnet pepper, sliced
  • 2 cups water(480 mL)
  • 4 cups oil(1 L), for frying
  • brown rice, to serve
  • red bean, to serve
  • 3 fried plantains, to serve

For Pikliz

  • 2 cups cabbage(200 g), shredded
  • 1 cup carrot(110 g), grated
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 3 scallions, diced
  • 1 shallot, sliced
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • scotch bonnet pepper, divided
  • 2 cups white wine vinegar

Method to Prepare 

  • First of all, we will prepare the griot. 
  • Take a large dutch oven and add cubed pork shoulder, salt, pepper, chopped onion, shallots, scallions, sliced bell pepper, garlic, chicken bouillon cube, cloves, orange juice, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, thyme sprigs, parsley, and sliced Scotch bonnet peppers.
  • Mix them thoroughly and cover the pot. Slide the pot into the fridge for overnight marination. 
  • Now, let’s prepare pikliz. Take a large bowl and combine shredded cabbage, grated carrot, sliced bell pepper, sliced onion, sliced scallions, sliced shallots, and sliced Scotch bonnets. 
  • Now, season the pikliz with salt and pepper as per your taste. 
  • Thoroughly mix with your hands and pack the pikliz down into mason jars. Fill it with white vinegar and slide it into the fridge for chilling. 
  • Now, get your dutch pot out of the fridge and preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  • Put the dutch oven with the marinated pork on the stove. Pour 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. 
  • Slide the pork into the oven to braise for one and a half hours, until it is cooked through and tender. 
  • Pick out the pork pieces and place them on a baking tray that is lined with a paper towel. Let them dry. Pat them down the surface to ensure that there is no moisture in the pork. 
  • Now, heat a pot of oil.
  • Fry pork in batches and fry them until they’re deeply golden brown in color, for about 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Once fried, transfer pork chunks to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain the excess oil. 
  • Serve them hot with rice, beans, and the prepared pikliz, and enjoy!

Must Check: Orange Mojito Recipe: Toothsome and Healthy Summer Drink!

Final Words 

Griot recipe is one of the most delicious and most famous dishes of Haitian cuisine. Additionally, it is an easy-to-make and delicious-to-eat recipe. So, if you have bored yourself by eating pork chops, you can try this unique pork recipe and freshen up your pork menu!