Michael Symons Cast Iron Pork Pie Recipes

CAST-IRON CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• For the chicken and vegetable base: Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over direct heat. Melt the butter. Add the carrots, onions and thyme. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, coating the vegetables, and continue to cook for another minute. Whisk in the chicken stock, smoothing out any flour lumps. Simmer until the mixture begins to thicken, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the dumplings: Melt the butter with the jalapeno if using and lime juice in a sauce pot over indirect heat, then let cool.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, celery seeds, salt and lime zest in a large bowl. Mix in the cheese.
• Slowly pour the melted butter mixture into the cold cream in a small bowl and mix together using a fork. (The butter will bead up as you mix.) Pour the butter-cream mixture into the flour mixture and bring together into a soft dough. Set aside.
• Finish the chicken and vegetable base: Add the chicken, peas and parsley to the skillet with the vegetables. Move the skillet over indirect heat and scoop the biscuit mixture on top, covering the surface of the pan. Cover the grill and cook until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• (Alternatively, you can make the sauce and melt the butter mixture on a stovetop, then bake the biscuits in a 375 degrees F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.)

PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• For the pork: Mix together the mustard and apple cider and brush all sides of the pork loin and ribs with the mixture. Liberally sprinkle the pork loin and ribs with the smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon salt and 2 tablespoons cracked black pepper. Add some oil to a cast-iron skillet or roasting pan, then place the rack of ribs, curved-side down, in the skillet and place the loin, fat-side up, on top of the ribs. Roast until the internal temperature of the loin reaches 145 degrees F, about 30 minutes.
• While the pork begins to roast, cut the carrots, parsnips, potatoes and turnips into wedges using an oblique cut: Place a vegetable on a cutting board and hold your knife at a 45-degree angle to the vegetable. Cutting roughly 1-inch slices on the diagonal, roll the vegetable a quarter turn toward you each time you make a cut so you're cutting point to point until the vegetable is completely cut. Add the carrots, parsnips, potatoes, turnips, garlic and thyme to the skillet with the pork roast. Drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Return the skillet to the oven and continue to cook until the loin reaches 145 degrees F.
• Transfer the pork loin to a cutting board to rest and tent with foil. Return the skillet to the oven and cook until the ribs and vegetables are cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the oven, transfer the vegetables to a platter and transfer the ribs to a cutting board.
• For the pan gravy: Heat the same skillet over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until it absorbs the fat in the skillet. Slowly whisk in the cider and 1 cup water and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly to smooth out any lumps, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Stir in the parsley and set aside.
• Cut the rack of ribs into individual ribs and scatter over the roasted vegetables. Slice the pork loin and shingle onto the platter. Spoon the pan gravy over the top and serve.

MICHAEL SYMON'S CAST IRON PORK PIE

Steps:

• In a cast iron skillet, brown bacon and pork and remove from pan and reserve. To the same pan , add a drizzle of olive oil, onions, kale, celery, garlic,cinnamon, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and sweat for 2 minutes; then add the pork and bacon back to pan with a splash of water. Mix, then add parsley and celery leaves and stir in to combine. Spread mashed potatoes over pork and sprinkle with grated cheddar. Bake at 450^ until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes, garnish with celery leaves and serve.
• Check out my recipe for "Easy Skillet Pot Pie" , too!