What to Serve with Pork Vindaloo? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Vindaloo is a Goan meat curry dish. It’s based on the Portuguese dish carne de vinha d’alhos.

The original recipe has pork, but you can find versions with beef, chicken, lamb, mutton, seafood, and veggies.

If you’re familiar with curries, you know they’re usually served with rice and Indian bread.

But you can also serve several other items like green salad, arbi, pickled onions and roasted potatoes.

If you’re looking for some ideas, read to find out more dishes to serve with pork vindaloo.

Once you know, it’ll be fun to cook the curry because there’ll be several dishes to choose from.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Pork Vindaloo?

The delicious pork dish is delightful but you aren’t supposed to eat curries alone.

You’ll enjoy the excellent curry even more when serving extra items.

Moreover, even if the curry is incredibly tasty, it won’t look good to serve a single dish at any event.

Your guests will also be expecting to enjoy more food, so side dishes are essential.

Pork vindaloo is a spicy dish, so you’ll require some items to balance the flavor and tone down the heat.

What to Serve with Pork Vindaloo? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Here are some of the best dishes you can serve with pork vindaloo.

1 – Fluffy Basmati Rice

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It’s probably one of the first dishes that comes to mind when you think of pork vindaloo.

Fluffy basmati rice is simple and easy to make and it’s the perfect side dish for the flavorsome curry.

Basmati means “full of aroma,” and it’s genuinely fragrant.

It also has a fluffy consistency and that’s why it’s one of the most preferred rice varieties for curries.

You don’t have to add anything else to the rice when serving with pork vindaloo but it’s up to you.

You can make basmati rice in multiple ways using spices so if you want a more colorful look; you can add various spices like turmeric, cumin and saffron.

2 – Naan Bread

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When serving any Indian curry, naan bread is a common accompaniment.

It makes the perfect side dish with pork vindaloo and the bread tastes great too.

Unlike most Indian bread which is usually made on a stovetop, naan is made in the tandoor.

So, you get crispy edges and charred parts, which make the naan even tastier.

Naan is usually plain and contains only the items needed for making bread.

But you can also add garlic, sesame seeds, cheese and other items if you want additional flavor.

3 – Creamy Cucumber Salad

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With pork vindaloo having a spicy flavor, adding a salad is a good idea.

While any salad will click, we have added cucumber salad in Indian style.

It’s crunchy, creamy, aromatic and slightly tangy.

It’s a little similar to typical cucumber salad but instead of mayonnaise, it uses yogurt and sour cream.

The salad also has salt, onion, tomato, fresh coriander leaves and jalapeno pepper.

The sour cream and yogurt make the salad creamy but you won’t want the salad to become soggy.

But it can if the cucumber and tomato are overripe.

So, make sure to choose fresh cucumbers.

They must be firm, flawless, and dark green without any yellow spots.

4 – Roasted Potatoes

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Some vindaloo variants also contain potatoes because the name of the dish has “aloo” which means potato in Hindi.

But it’s only a coincidence and has nothing to do with potatoes.

But it doesn’t mean you can’t have potatoes with pork vindaloo.

They make a fine combo, and you’ll undoubtedly enjoy them when you eat them.

Pork vindaloo is exceptionally flavorful, so you don’t have to use many ingredients.

Salt, pepper, garlic and olive oil are sufficient for roasted potatoes.

But using the right potatoes is essential or you won’t get the desired results.

Go with Yukon Gold as they cook fast and they’re just waxy enough to hold their shape.

5 – Yogurt and Curd

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Though both are dairy products, yogurt and curd are different.

But we promise that both are delicious and make a suitable pairing with pork vindaloo.

They can bring down the spiciness of the curry and refresh your palate.

While yogurt and curd look similar, they are separate.

A simple example is curd contains Lactobacillus bacterium and yogurt has live strains of both Lactobacillus Bulgaris bacterium and Streptococcus thermophilus.

People use both curd and yogurt in India but the former is most widely consumed as almost every household has a recipe and makes it regularly.

6 – Pickled Onions

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Pickled veggies are also suitable to pair with pork vindaloo.

While you can use any vegetable, onions can be incredibly delicious.

We guarantee that you won’t be disappointed with the combo.

It’s also effortless to make pickled onions and you won’t need too many ingredients.

Besides, it takes very little time to make the pickles and you can use them on the same day.

Red onion, green chili, coriander leaves, chili powder, salt and malt vinegar(or lemon or lime juice) make up the ingredients for the pickles.

7 – Arbi

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Arbi is taro root and the dish is arbi masala.

It’s a popular dish in Punjabi cuisine and is served with many items.

It also pairs nicely with pork vindaloo.

However, while taro is delicious, handling it is a little tricky.

So, wear gloves when peeling its skin and parboil the veggie before peeling each taro root.

Taro can be slimy, so make a dry dish and do not add water.

But use the required spices such as cumin, mustard seeds, asafoetida, onion, green chili, ginger, and garlic paste.

You can add coriander leaves and lemon juice for garnish.

8 – Green Salad

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Besides all the above dishes, you can also include a green salad with pork vindaloo.

It will provide a fresh element, cleanse your palate nicely and balance the meal.

Green salad is a flavorsome and convenient dish because you can use your preferred ingredients or what is available at home or the store.

A simple lemon dressing will bind the salad.

You can use lettuce, spinach, kale or arugula greens for the salad.

If you have more than one type, you can use them and see how the salad tastes.

9 – Chapati

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It’s a flatbread that originated in the Indian Subcontinent and South Asia.

Chapati is an unleavened bread and is a popular staple in many parts of the world where there are a considerable number of immigrants from the Indian Subcontinent.

You can have chapatis with any food that you eat with naan bread.

Hence, if you can’t make naan or find it at a nearby store, you can serve chapati with pork vindaloo.

If you buy ready-made chapatis, ask for freshly-made flatbreads because these taste the best.

You must also try to serve them immediately if you make the chapatis yourself.

10 – Mango Lassi

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Let’s complete the list with a beverage that’s taking the world over.

Mango lassi is part of Indian cuisine, but it has become popular everywhere.

It also makes a good pairing with pork vindaloo and can refresh your palate.

Lassi is buttermilk made according to Indian tastebuds.

Mango lassi is lassi with mango flavor.

It can also contain spices and toppings, differing from place to place.

Making mango lass is easy, but if you’re unfamiliar with the process, you can order from any Indian restaurant in the area, or you can go and buy the beverage in person.

Serve it to your guests and watch them enjoy the wonderful flavors.

Conclusion

Whether you serve pork vindaloo at a family dinner or a special occasion, you’ll have ten side dishes.

So, there’s no reason why you have to worry.

You can pick rice, salad, yogurt and curd.

But don’t choose the same dishes for the next event or it can get dull.

For example, you can serve naan bread, pickled onions and green salad at the next event.

If you follow this simple routine, your party will be a success every time.