Pork Agrodolce Recipes

PORK CHOP AGRODOLCE

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, garlic and thyme in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Continue to simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the honey and simmer until the mixture has thickened slightly, another 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the butter and set aside.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Season the pork chops evenly on both sides with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle with the olive oil and place on the hot grill pan. Grill the first side until nicely browned, about 5 minutes. Flip the chops and grill for an additional 5 minutes on the second side. Baste the chops with some of the sauce and then continue basting and flipping until the chops are caramelized and slightly charred and the meat registers 150 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove the chops to a platter and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Serve drizzled with the remaining sauce.

SPICED PORK CHOPS WITH SWEET AND SOUR GLAZE (AGRODOLCE)

Steps:

• Pork: In a large, heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over high heat. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper, to taste, and sprinkle with the red pepper flakes. Add the pork to the pan and cook until cooked through. for about 5 to 6 minutes on each side, or Remove the pork from the pan, cover loosely with foil, and set aside.
• Glaze: In a small saucepan, bring the vinegar, honey, garlic, scallions, and rosemary to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the honey has dissolved. Simmer for 9 minutes, or until slightly reduced. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Arrange the pork chops on a platter and drizzle with the glaze.

SICILIAN GRILLED PORK LOIN WITH AGRODOLCE GRILLED PEACHES

Steps:

• Tie the loin with kitchen twine at 1-inch intervals and add to the Honey-Rosemary Brine in a large container. Brine the pork loin in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours. Remove from the brine, rinse under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour before grilling.
• Prepare the charcoal in a chimney starter (allowing the charcoal to burn until all the charcoal is covered with a thin layer of gray ash) and add to the grill, creating a two-level fire by spreading the coals out over half the grill bottom, piling them up in a mound 3 briquettes high, leaving the other half with no coals. Spread the soaked wood chips evenly over the top and the rosemary sprigs or sage leaves, if desired. Put the cooking grate in place and open the grill lid vents halfway. Let the grate heat for 5 minutes. Use a grill brush to scrape the cooking grate clean.
• Brush the entire loin with the olive oil and sprinkle with pepper. Place the pork on the opposite side of the coals but close to the fire. Cover with the lid and turn the lid so that the vents are opposite the fire to draw smoke through the grill. Use a grill thermometer and make sure the heat inside the grill is at 400 degrees F.
• Grill the pork, covered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the pork registers about 135 degrees F. This will take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes, depending the thickness of the loin.
• Transfer the loin to a cutting board, tent loosely with foil and let rest 15 minutes before cutting into thick slices. Serve with the Agrodolce Grilled Peaches and drizzle some of the reduced peach glaze over the meat.
• Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the broth, salt, honey, sugar, peppercorns, rosemary and garlic, stirring to dissolve the salt. Remove from the heat and add the ice cubes to cool quickly to room temperature.
• Bring the vinegar, honey, nectar and some salt and pepper to a simmer in a large high-sided saute pan over medium heat. Cook until the liquid is reduced to a syrupy consistency, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Brush the cut side of the peaches with the canola oil, season with salt and pepper and place cut-side down on the grill over medium-high heat. Grill until lightly golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip, cook 1 to 2 minutes then brush with the glaze and cook another minute or so. The peaches should be tender but hold their shape. Transfer the peaches to a platter and drizzle with some of the glaze.

PORK CHOPS WITH FIG AND GRAPE AGRODOLCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Season pork chops on both sides with 1 1/4 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over high. Working in batches if needed, sear pork chops until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer chops to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet; reserve pan drippings in skillet. Roast pork until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 135°F, about 15 minutes. Let pork rest 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat skillet with drippings over medium-high. Add vinegar and cook, scraping up drippings with a wooden spoon. Stir in red pepper flakes, if using, 2 Tbsp. honey, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Add grapes, figs, and rosemary and stir to coat. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and fruit is softened, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter.
• Whisk lemon juice, mustard, and remaining 3 Tbsp. oil, 1 tsp. honey, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in a large bowl. Add radicchio and parsley and toss to coat.
• Divide radicchio salad and pork chops among plates. Top with agrodolce.

PORK AGRODOLCE WITH FENNEL AND WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium-high. Combine shallot and vinegar in a medium bowl. Stir together 2 tablespoons honey and 2 tablespoons oil. Toss fennel slices with 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Season pork with salt and pepper; brush grill grates with oil. Grill pork, flipping once and brushing both sides with honey mixture, until a thermometer inserted in thickest parts near (but not touching) bones registers 145 degrees, 3 to 4 minutes a side. Transfer to a plate; tent with foil. Grill fennel slices, flipping once, until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes a side. Stir beans and remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 1 teaspoon honey into shallot mixture; season with salt and pepper. To serve, divide bean mixture, grilled fennel, and tomatoes among plates; top with pork. Sprinkle with fennel fronds.

PORK AGRODOLCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C). Brush a baking dish with olive oil.
• Whisk tomato paste, vinegar, honey, mashed anchovy, green onions, garlic, rosemary, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper together in a large bowl to make the agrodolce.
• Cut pork shoulder into roughly 3-inch pieces. Add to the bowl of agrodolce and mix by hand until coated. Transfer pork and sauce to the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven, flipping pieces over halfway through, until pork is very tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Add a splash of water if pork appears too dry. Skim off fat as desired.