east-timoresedinner

Tukir

Name: Tukir
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 105 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: east-timorese
Ingredients: 800 g pork ribs, cut into portions; 3 tbsp tamarind paste; 4 red chillies, sliced; 5 cloves garlic, crushed; 1 tsp salt; 500 ml water

Slow-simmered pork ribs with tamarind and chilli, a festive East Timorese favourite.

Prep

15 min

Cook

90 min

Servings

Difficulty

Medium

★★★★★

4.8(267 ratings)

#pork#braised#tamarind#festive#gluten-free

Share:Pinterest X WhatsApp Facebook

About This Recipe

Tukir is a hearty pork rib braise seasoned with tamarind, chilli, and aromatics. The slow cook yields fall-off-the-bone meat in a tangy, lightly spiced broth. It is typically prepared for community gatherings and celebrations.

Ingredients

Serves 4

800 gpork ribs, cut into portions
3 tbsptamarind paste
4red chillies, sliced
5 clovesgarlic, crushed
1 tspsalt
500 mlwater

Instructions

1
Brown ribs
Sear ribs in a heavy pot over high heat until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
2
Add aromatics
Add garlic and chillies, stir for 1 minute.
3
Braise
Add tamarind paste, salt, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 80 minutes.
4
Reduce sauce
Uncover and cook 10 more minutes to thicken the sauce.
5
Serve
Serve with steamed rice and fresh greens.

Pro Tips

→
Add a split lemongrass stalk during braising for extra fragrance.
→
Taste and adjust tamarind at the end.

Variations

•
Use beef short ribs instead of pork.
•
Add potatoes in the last 30 minutes to make it more filling.

Storage

Refrigerate up to 3 days; flavour improves overnight.

History & Origin

Pork is central to Timorese festive culture and this slow-braise style reflects Portuguese and Southeast Asian culinary influences that shaped the local repertoire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a pressure cooker?

Yes — pressure cook for 35 minutes instead of 80.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (350g / 12.3 oz) · 4 servings total

Calories490kcal

Protein38g

Carbohydrates8g

Fat33g

Fiber1g

Protein38g

Carbs8g

Fat33g

Time Summary

Prep time15 min

Cook time90 min

Total time105 min

Have Questions?

Ask our AI cooking assistant anything about this recipe — substitutions, techniques, scaling.

Chat with AI Chef →

More East-timorese Recipes

🐟

Ikan Pepes

50 min · Medium

🍚

Budu Rice

25 min · Easy

🫔

Saboko

40 min · Medium

🍠

Tapai

35 min · Easy

Community

Join the conversation

Instructions

Brown ribs

Sear ribs in a heavy pot over high heat until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.

Add aromatics

Add garlic and chillies, stir for 1 minute.

Braise

Add tamarind paste, salt, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 80 minutes.

Reduce sauce

Uncover and cook 10 more minutes to thicken the sauce.

Serve

Serve with steamed rice and fresh greens.