Catalan Braised Pork Shoulder With Dried Fruit Recipes

CATALAN BRAISED PORK SHOULDER WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325º.
• Using kitchen string, tie the pork shoulder crosswise, spacing the ties 1 inch apart. Rub the pork generously with salt and pepper and the garlic.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 5 to 6 quart flameproof casserole or Dutch oven over high heat until almost smoking. Add the pork and cook until richly browned on all sides, about 8 minutes total. Add the remaining oil while the pork browns, if the casserole looks too dry. Transfer the pork to a bowl. Add the chopped onion, carrot, and pearl onions to the casserole and brown well, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the kirsch and cook over high heat until it is reduced to about 1 tablespoon, about 1 minute. Add the wine, beef stock, cherries, apricots, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and rosemary sprigs and bring to a boil, scraping the bottom of the casserole to dislodge the brown bits. Season the sauce with salt to taste.
• Return the pork to the casserole. Cover tightly and transfer it to the oven. Bake the pork, turning it once or twice, until it is very tender and an instant-read thermometer registers 165º, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer the pork to a plate and cover it with foil to keep warm. Remove and discard the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and rosemary sprigs.
• Transfer the casserole to the stove top and cook the sauce over high heat until it is slightly syrupy, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove the string from the pork and discard it. Cut the pork into slices and arrange on a serving platter. Pour the sauce over the pork and serve.

CROCK POT PORK CHOPS WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Place pork in 4-5 quart crock pot slow cooker.
• Layer dried fruit evenly over pork.
• Mix brown sugar, marmalade, vinegar, ginger and nectar,.
• Pour evenly over pork and fruit in crock pot.
• Cover and cook on low heat setting 6-7 hours or until pork is slightly pink when cut near bone.
• Remove pork and fruit from crock pot with slotted spoon, Cover and keep warm.
• Pour juices from slow cooker into 1 quart saucepan.
• Mix cornstarch and water.
• Stir into juices in saucepan.
• Cook over high heat 4-6 minutes , stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly Serve with pork and fruit.

CAUCASUS-STYLE BRAISED PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• Mince garlic, then mash to a paste with 2 teaspoons kosher salt using a heavy knife. Grind coriander and fenugreek seeds and red-pepper flakes to a powder in grinder, then stir together with garlic and 2 tablespoons oil in a small bowl. Make 2-inch-deep slits all over meat with a small sharp knife and push some of paste into slits. Rub remaining paste all over meat. Put pork in a bowl and marinate, covered and chilled, at least 8 hours.
• Bring meat to room temperature, about 1 hour.
• Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a wide 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown pork on all sides, turning with tongs and a large kitchen fork, about 8 minutes total. Transfer pork to a large plate and cook onion in fat remaining in pot, stirring occasionally and scraping up brown bits, until beginning to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Return pork to pot and add water and remaining teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then cover tightly with lid and transfer to oven. Braise, turning meat once, until very tender, about 3 hours. Cool pork in pan juices completely, uncovered, about 1 1/2 hours, then chill, covered, at least 8 hours.
• Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Remove fat from surface of pan juices and reheat pork (with pan juices), covered, in oven 1 hour. Transfer pork to a platter using cleaned tongs and large fork. Stir cilantro, vinegar, and table salt and pepper to taste into pan juices and serve with pork.

MEDALLIONS OF PORK TENDERLOIN WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Cut the tenderloin crosswise on the diagonal into 3/4-inch medallions. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
• In a large nonstick skillet with a lid, heat the oil over high until nearly smoking. Add the medallions and cook until well browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• To the skillet, add the broth, apples, plums, mustard, vinegar and thyme. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer until the fruits have softened and the sauce has thickened, about 8 minutes.
• Return the pork to the sauce and simmer until the pork is no longer pink at the center, about 3 minutes.
• Serve immediately.

BRAISED PORK SHOULDER WITH ONIONS

Steps:

• With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
• In a large ovenproof pan, brown the meat in 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of oil. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside on a plate.
• In the same pan, gently brown the onions in the remaining oil until well caramelized. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the flour and stir to combine. Add the wine and bring to a boil.
• Return the meat to the pan and add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cover and braise in the oven for 2 hours. Remove the lid and continue cooking for about 1 hour or until the meat falls easily with a fork.
• Serve with a green vegetable and mashed potatoes.
• Reserve half of the meat and sauce to the Braised Pork Macaroni Casserole.

PASSOVER-INSPIRED BRAISED LAMB WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Season the meat with salt and pepper and put it in a pot that will fit it snugly and can later be covered. Add the spices and a 1/2 bottle of wine. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a slow bubble, and cover. Cook about an hour, then add onion, garlic, ginger and dried fruit, and check to make sure the liquid isn't evaporating too quickly; turn and continue to cook. Add the remaining red wine if the mixture looks dry, but essentially cook this without fuss.
• When the meat is very tender - after about 2 1/2 hours - uncover. Check and adjust the seasoning as necessary, garnish and serve.