Skip to main content
Epicurious

Pork Pepperpot

Bowl of pork pepperpot on wooden table.
Photograph by Julia Stotz

Pepperpot, a national dish of Guyana, is usually served for special occasions and around the holidays, particularly Christmas. Its complex, layered flavor belies its simplicity and endless adaptability. Commonly made with chunks of beef or oxtail, the slow-cooked stew is heady with spices like cinnamon, clove, and indigenous hot peppers. Cassareep—a sticky syrup made from cassava root and flavored with spices—gives pepperpot its signature espresso-brown color and bittersweet top notes. At Canje, in Austin, Texas—one of our 10 Best New Restaurants of 2022—chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph sources small-batch cassareep direct from Guyana. For the rest of us, Bristol-Joseph recommends Dave’s brand (find it online or in the international aisle of your grocery store).

Pepperpot reheats well and is even better made a few days ahead. Cassareep is believed to have preservative qualities and traditionally pepperpot is left on the stove and reheated over several days without fear of spoiling. Any well-marbled cut of beef or goat suited for braising can be used instead of pork.

See all 10 of 2022’s Best New Restaurants →

What you’ll need

Read More
Pork and Tomatillo Udon
Two pantry sauces—hoisin and green tomatillo salsa—join forces to form a deliciously balanced sauce for udon noodles.
Spicy Pork and Refried Bean Soup
A can of refried beans disappears into the broth of this simple soup, adding body and luscious texture, while chipotle chiles in adobo add smoky heat.
Rosemary and Dried Cherry Pork Chops
Rehydrating dried cherries in hot water turns them plump and juicy—exactly what you want scattered throughout a rosemary-scented pan sauce for pork chops.
Pad Kra Pao
This fast stir-fry dish pairs minced pork and fragrant basil with hot Thai chiles and a crispy fried egg.
Gingery Pork Stuffed Tomatoes
We reimagined pork dumplings as a filling for juicy stuffed tomatoes.
Now-and-Later Roast Chickens
An easy technique that results in juicy, tender roast chicken. Cooking two chickens at once is the secret to easy meals throughout the week.
Silken Tofu With Black Bean Garlic Sauce
A homemade black bean sauce is better than anything you can find in the grocery store. Plus, the 15-minute dinner you can make with it.
Chickpeas With 40 Garlic Cloves
Braising canned chickpeas in chicken stock and olive oil makes them unbelievably tender and buttery. This is worth the effort of peeling 40 cloves of garlic.