Onion And Parmesan Rillettes Recipes

PARMESAN FRIED ONION

Steps:

• Fill a large pot or Dutch oven with enough oil to submerge the onion, with space around the sides for it to "bloom." (You might need up to a gallon, depending on the size of your onion, but don't worry; you can strain the oil and use it again for frying, so it won't go to waste.) Preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the milk, eggs, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine.
• Combine the flour, Parmesan, paprika, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper in a large bowl. Toss with a fork to combine.
• Cut off the top of the onion and place cut-side down. Think of the onion as the face of a clock, and cut slits at noon, 3, 6 and 9, cutting almost but not quite to the center of the onion. You'll now have 4 quadrants. Cut 3 more slits in each quadrant, once again cutting almost but not quite to the center of the onion. Flip the onion and gently separate the "petals" with your fingers.
• Put the onion in the flour mixture and sprinkle it over and around to coat, gently separating the petals as needed to completely coat it.
• Put the onion in the egg wash and coat evenly in the egg, opening the petals again as needed. Let the excess egg wash drip back in the bowl.
• Put the onion in the flour once more and sprinkle it over and around to coat, making sure to keep the petals as separate as you can.
• Use a large spider to lower the onion, cut-side up, into the hot oil. The temperature of the oil will immediately begin to drop. Adjust the heat so the oil stays around 350 to 360 degrees F for the remainder of frying. With a fork, separate the petals a bit more, if needed. Fry the onion until the tips are golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Use the spider to gently flip the onion and continue to fry until the entire onion is crisp, deep golden and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes more. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Transfer the onion while still hot to a serving plate. Season with salt and pepper. Shower with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan. Serve with mayo for dunking.

ONION AND PARMESAN RILLETTES

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté the onions and garlic in the butter until the onions turn a rich golden brown, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the cream and mix well. Reduce the heat to low and add the Parmigiano, thyme and nutmeg. Mix well and adjust the seasoning. Remove the thyme.
• Transfer the mixture to 1 or 2 ramekins. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Serve with toast.

PORK RILLETTES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 275º. Put the peppercorns, allspice, cloves and coriander in a spice grinder or clean coffee grinder and process until finely ground. Put the pork in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven and sprinkle with salt and the spice mixture. Add the garlic, bay leaf, rosemary and stock and put the pot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, cover and put the pot in the oven. Cook, checking every now and then, until the pork is falling apart and beginning to caramelize and the stock has almost entirely evaporated (remove the cover if necessary to get the liquid to evaporate; the bottom of the pot should be just about all melted fat when you're done), 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
• Strain the mixture; reserve the fat and discard the garlic, bay leaf, rosemary and any gristle. Transfer the pork to a bowl and mash it into small shreds with the back of a fork. Add 1/4 cup of the reserved fat and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper if you like (keep in mind that the colder you serve the rillettes, the less salty they will taste). Pack the rillettes into a mason jar or another container and refrigerate (covered tightly, they will keep for at least a week). Serve cold or at room temperature.