Pork Stewed with Tomatoes (Babi Masak Tomat)

A recipe from Kalimantan, where pork popular among the Dyaks.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ lbs (700 g) pork
• 4 ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges 
• 5 to 6 garlic chives (kucai)or spring onions, cut into lengths
• 1 stalk lemongrass, thick bottom third only, outer layers discarded, inner part bruised
• 1 cup (250 ml) water

Spice Paste

• 1 in (2 ½ cm) Fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
• 4 red finger-length chilies, desseded
• 4 shallots, peeled

Cooking directions:

• Cut the pork bite-sized chunks
• Grind the Spice ingredients to a smooth paste in amortar or blender, adding a little water if necessary to keep the mixture turning
• Bring the Spice Paste and all the other ingredients to a boil in a wok or saucepan, then simmer over medium heat until the pork is tender, 3 to 5 minutes, adding a little sugar if the tomatoes are quite sour and a little water if the sauce dries up before the meat si cooked. Remove from the heat and serve immediately with steamed rice.