Dominican Souse
Dominican Souse is a flavorful and tangy dish, typically made with boiled pig's feet or cow's heel, marinated in a zesty broth of lime juice, onions, peppers, and herbs. It's often served cold and is a popular appetizer or snack, especially during festive occasions.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 lb Pig's feet(or cow's heel/foot)
- 6 cups Water(or enough to cover)
- 6 cloves Garlic(minced or grated)
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 2 stalks Celery(thinly sliced)
- 2 stalks Scallions(chopped)
- 1 tbsp Thyme(chopped)
- 1 Hot pepper(Scotch bonnet or pimento pepper, to taste)
- 2 tbsp Lime juice(freshly squeezed)
- 1 Cucumber(sliced or diced)
- 1 tbsp Salt(to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(to taste)
- 1 tbsp Parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Wash the pig's feet thoroughly, scrubbing with lime juice and rinsing under cold water. If using cow's heel or skin, prepare accordingly.
- 2
Place the cleaned pig's feet in a large pot. Add garlic cloves, a few sprigs of thyme, and a little salt. Cover with about 6 cups of water.
- 3
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the meat is very tender and falling off the bone. You can also use a pressure cooker for about 45-60 minutes.
- 4
Once cooked, drain the water from the pot, leaving the tender meat. Discard any imperfections or excess fat.
- 5
In a large bowl, combine the chopped onion, minced garlic, sliced celery, chopped scallions, chopped thyme, and hot pepper (finely minced or whole, depending on desired heat).
- 6
Add the fresh lime juice, sliced or diced cucumber, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Gently crush some of the ingredients against the side of the bowl to release their flavors.
- 7
Add the cooked pig's feet to the bowl with the marinade. Toss gently to ensure all pieces are coated. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours, or preferably overnight, for the flavors to meld.
- 8
Serve the souse cold, garnished with fresh chopped parsley. It is traditionally eaten with bread or Johnny cakes.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The key to good souse is the balance of acidity from the lime, the heat from the pepper, and the freshness of the herbs.
- ✓For a spicier kick, leave the seeds in the hot pepper or add a dash of hot sauce.
- ✓Souse can be made with other meats like chicken feet or cow heel.
🔄 Variations
- Cow Foot Souse: Use boiled cow's feet instead of pig's feet.
- Chicken Foot Souse: Use boiled chicken feet.
- Add other vegetables like bell peppers or carrots.