Apricot Cumin Stuffed Pork For Two Recipes

APRICOT-STUFFED PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Cut a lengthwise slit down the center of the roast to within 1/2 in. of bottom. Open roast so it lies flat; cover with plastic wrap. Flatten to 1/2-in. thickness. Remove wrap; sprinkle with cheese, apricots, thyme, garlic, salt, pepper and cayenne., Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long end. Tie at 1-1/2- to 2-inch intervals with kitchen string; secure ends with toothpicks. Transfer to an 11x7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Brush tenderloin with butter. Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

BOURBON AND DRIED PLUM STUFFED PORK LOIN

Steps:

• For the filling: Combine the bourbon and dried plums in a small bowl and set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large saute pan. Add the onions and some salt and pepper to taste; cook, stirring, over medium heat until very tender but not browned, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic powder, rosemary and cumin and cook 30 seconds more.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add the dried plums and bourbon. Carefully return the pan to the heat and cook until reduced by half. Stir in the remaining tablespoon butter. Remove the pan from the heat and add the breadcrumbs. Stir well to incorporate, then set aside to cool to room temperature.
• For the pork loin: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Combine the olive oil, garlic powder, rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl and mix well to combine. Rub the mixture all over the pork loin and place on a cutting board with the fat side facing up. Starting on one side of the loin, insert a paring knife or thin fillet knife through the cut side of the loin toward the center of the meat, keeping both your knife and the meat centered. (You are trying to create a hole through the center of the loin while keeping the entire roast intact, like a tunnel.) If your knife is not long enough to reach all the way through the loin, make the same cut from the opposite end of the loin to connect the two cuts.
• Lay a sheet of plastic wrap out on the cutting board. Arrange the stuffing in the center of the plastic wrap. Shape the stuffing so that it lays in a narrow rectangle, the same length as the pork loin. Tightly wrap the stuffing in the plastic wrap, maintaining the shape. Twist the ends of the plastic wrap to tighten the shape and tie a knot at each end as close to the stuffing as possible.
• Insert a metal skewer with a looped end through the hole in the pork loin. Tie one end of the plastic wrap around the loop and use it to pull the stuffing into the center of the pork loin.
• When the stuffing is centered, cut the knot off one end of the plastic wrap. Pull the plastic wrap from the other end while squeezing to extract the stuffing. As you pinch and pull, the plastic wrap should come out, leaving the stuffing behind inside the pork loin.
• Line a baking sheet with foil and place the pork loin fat-side down on top. Roast the pork loin, 25 minutes. Flip the pork loin so that the fat side is now facing up. Cook until a thermometer inserted into the center of the pork loin registers 140 degrees F, about 20 minutes more. Transfer the pork loin to a rack to rest. (The internal temperature should reach a minimum of 145 degrees F as it rests.)
• Slice into 1/2-inch thick and drizzle with good-quality olive oil before serving.

CRANBERRY-APRICOT STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Put the dried fruit in a small bowl. Pour 1/4 cup boiling water over the fruit and set aside for 10 minutes to soften. Drain, reserve the soaking water. In a mini-processor process the fruit with the nuts, butter, fennel and half the shallot until finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small sealable plastic bag or pastry bag. Snip about a 1/2-inch opening in the corner of the plastic bag. With a small paring knife, make a pocket starting from rounded side of each chop. Set the tip of the bag inside the pocket and press a quarter of the stuffing into the chop. Repeat with the remaining chops and filling. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pat the chops dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Brown one side of the chops, until well browned about 5 minutes. Use tongs to hold the chops and sear the edges of the chops. Turn and brown the other sides of the chops, about 2 minutes. Transfer the chops to a baking sheet and bake until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of the chops registers 135 degrees F, about 15 minutes. While the chops are in the oven make the sauce. Drain the oil from the saute pan. Off the heat, add the Calvados and the remaining shallots. Return the pan to the heat, taking care since the alcohol may flambe, and cook over high heat until the alcohol is reduced by half and is slightly syrupy. Add the broth and the fruit soaking liquid and boil down until the liquid is reduce by about a third. Add the cream and continue to simmer until it thickens slightly. Whisk in the mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add any juices that have accumulated on the baking sheet to the sauce. Divide the chops among 4 warm plates or a large platter. Pour on the sauce and serve.

APRICOT-STUFFED SPICE-RUBBED PORK LOIN

Steps:

• Combine first 7 ingredients in a small bowl. Combine apricots and capers; set aside. Trim fat from pork. Cut a 1-1/2-inch-wide horizontal slit into the end of pork; cut through to the other end of pork to form a deep pocket using a long, thin knife. Spoon apricot mixture into pocket; pack using the handle of a wooden spoon. Rub surface of pork with cumin mixture. Place pork on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Insert meat thermometer into thickest portion of pork. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 55 minutes or until thermometer registers 160 degrees (slightly pink).

ROLLED PORK BELLY WITH HERBY APRICOT & HONEY STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a small frying pan. Add the onion and cook for 10 mins until golden. Trim off about 100g of the pork, from the meaty side - but if the butcher has left a chunk of meat on one side where the ribs have been removed, leave this on as it will help you roll it. Whizz the pork trimmings in a food processor, then tip into a bowl with the herbs, breadcrumbs, apricots, onion and 2 tbsp oil, season and mix well.
• Turn the pork belly skin-side up. Using a sharp knife or Stanley knife, score the skin at 1cm intervals and rub the sea salt all over. Turn the pork belly over and season a little more, then brush the honey over the flesh. Lay the stuffing down the centre, then bring the 2 ends together and roll tightly. Flip the pork over so the ends meet underneath. Tie the rolled pork with kitchen string to secure. Put the meat on a wire rack in a roasting tin and transfer to the fridge, uncovered for a few hrs or up to 24 hrs, so the skin has time to dry out and the meat takes on the flavours from the stuffing.
• Heat oven to 220C/180C fan/gas 6. Rub the pork with the remaining oil and a little more sea salt. Roast in the centre of the oven for 30 mins. Turn the oven down to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and continue cooking for 2 hrs. Finally, turn the oven back up to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 to crisp up the skin for another 30 mins - don't worry if your pork looks dark on the outside, it will still be juicy and delicious in the middle. Remove from the oven, cover with foil and leave to rest for 45 mins before carving. If your skin does not turn crispy, pop the joint under a hot grill for a few mins, rolling it onto its side to get the sides nice and crispy too - just keep an eye on it as it will burn easily.

PORK CHOPS WITH APRICOT-ALMOND STUFFING

Steps:

• Mix together apricots, almonds, parsley, and 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cut a 2-inch slit into the side of each pork chop using a paring knife, cutting through to the bone to form a pocket. Fill each pocket with 2 tablespoons apricot stuffing, and press to flatten. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat. Sear pork chops until browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Add 1/2 cup stock. Reduce heat to low; simmer, covered, until cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer pork chops to plates using a slotted spatula.
• Add remaining 1/2 cup stock to skillet; raise heat to high, and simmer, scraping up brown bits with a wooden spoon, until sauce is thick, 5 to 7 minutes. Add vinegar; simmer for 30 seconds. Strain sauce through a fine sieve, and drizzle over pork.

APRICOT & CUMIN STUFFED PORK FOR TWO

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/Gas 6.
• Lightly toast the cumin seeds in a frying pan.
• Tip into a blender with the apricots and whizz until chopped, but not smooth.
• Slice the pork fillet in half horizontally, not cutting through completely, and open it like a book.
• Season the mean to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper, spread the cumin-apicot mixture along the center of the fillet, then fold themeat back to envelop the stuffing.
• Heat the oil in a pan and brown the meat on all sides for about 5 minutes.
• Remove the pork (Keep the pan as is with juices and lovely bits, as you will be using it shortly) and place on a roasting try and cover loosly with aluminum foil.
• Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until lightly pink.
• Meanwhile, add the wine and rosemary to the previously used pan (containing all the love and the juices) and bring to the boil.
• Simmer for 5 minutes or until you have a sauce.
• Remove the meat from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before carving into slices.
• Pour/add any remaining juices from the roasting tray into the sauce and mix well, remove the rosemary and pour over the stuffed pork slices when ready to serve.
• Enjoy!