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Axone pork
Pork with fermented soybean
Axone pork (akhuni) — Sumi Naga pork curry with fermented soybean
Axone, called akhuni in the Sumi Naga language, is soybean fermented in banana leaves until it is pungent and deeply savoury, and pork cooked with it is a signature of the Sumi people of Zunheboto in Nagaland. The smell is strong while it cooks, but the finished curry tastes rich, earthy and meaty, sharpened by tomato and chilli. Serve with rice and a green vegetable. Chef's tip: open a window and warn the household; axone is famously smelly in the pan and wonderful on the plate.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅔ lb pork belly or shouldercut into 3 cm pieces
- 2 cups water
- 1 ⅝ in gingercrushed
- 6 cloves garliccrushed
- 2 tomatoeschopped
- 2 tbsp axone (fermented soybean) pastefrom North-East Indian grocers; or 2 tbsp mashed natto
- 3 green chillies or 1 king chillislit; wear gloves for king chilli
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 handful fresh coriander (optional)chopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Put 1 ⅔ lb pork belly or shoulder in a heavy pot over a medium-high heat with no oil and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring, until the fat renders and the meat browns.
12 minStep 3: Add 2 tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes, until they break down.
5 minStep 4: Stir in 2 tbsp axone (fermented soybean) paste and 3 green chillies or 1 king chilli and fry for 2 minutes. Common mistake: frying the axone on a high heat for long; it scorches and turns bitter. Keep it to a minute or two, then add liquid.
2 minStep 5: Pour in 2 cups water, add 1 tsp salt, cover and simmer on a low heat for 30–35 minutes, until the pork is tender and cooked through with no pink.
35 minStep 6: Uncover and simmer for 5 minutes to thicken. Taste for salt, scatter with 1 handful fresh coriander and serve with rice.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 36 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 43 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does axone pork take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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