Portuguese Style Pork Cutlets Recipes

WINE AND GARLIC PORK (PORTUGUESE VINA DOSH)

Steps:

• Whisk red wine vinegar, red wine, garlic, bay leaves, cloves, black pepper, salt, and thyme together in a bowl; pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add the pork, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator 2 to 4 days, turning occasionally.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Drain the pork, reserving 1/2 cup of marinade. Put pork and reserved marinade in a baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven until the pork is completely warmed, about 20 minutes. Drain as much liquid from the pork as possible.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the pork to the skillet in batches to prevent crowding; cook and stir in hot oil until completely browned and no longer pink in the center, 10 to 15 minutes.

BIFANA (PORTUGUESE PORK CUTLETS)

Steps:

• 1. Place pork cutlets in a large heavy plastic ziptop bag and place in a large bowl.
• 2. In a mixing bowl, combine one cup of the wine, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, 1 tbsp pimento paste (1/2 tbsp if using hot), 1/4 tsp paprika and piri-piri sauce. Pour this mixture over pork, making sure all meat is covered and seal bag.
• 3. Refrigerate for severl hours or overnight, turning bag frequently.
• 4. Bring meat to room temperature before cooking; to cook, heat skillet over med-high heat and melt lard, cook pork in batches. When pork is sauteed, drain off the fat and add remaining wine (1/4 cup), remaining pimento paste (1 tbsp, 1/2 tbsp if using hot), remaining paprika (1/4 tsp) to the skillet, as well as salt and pepper to taste.
• 5. Bring to a boil, stirring and scrapping up any brown bits. Return pork to the skillet, reduce heat to low and cook for a couple minutes.
• 6. Serve pork on fresh Portuguese buns (Papo Secos) topped with sauteed onions and about a tsp of cooking sauce.

BIFANA (PORTUGUESE PORK CUTLETS)

Steps:

• Rinse the pork cutlets and then pat dry with paper towels.
• Place pork in a large heavy plastic bag (like a freezer ziploc bag) and place in a large bowl.
• In a mixing bowl, combine one cup of the wine, the vinegar, garlic, bay leaf, 1/2 tsp of the pimento paste, 1/4 tsp of the paprika, peppercorns, cloves and piri-piri sauce.
• Pour this over pork, make sure all meat is coated, and seal the bag.
• Refrigerate for several hours or overnight, turning bag over in bowl frequently.
• Bring meat to room temperature before cooking.
• To cook, remove pork from marinade and lightly pat pork dry with paper towels.
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and melt lard, then cook pork in batches in hot lard; if your pork is thin it will likely only take a minute per side, at the most.
• When all the pork has been sauteed, drain off the fat and add the remaining wine (1/4 cup), remaining pimento paste (1/4 tsp), remaining paprika (1/4 tsp) to the skillet, as well as salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring this to a boil, stirring the pan to get up any brown bits.
• Return all the pork to the skillet, reduce heat to low, and cook for about another minute.

PORTUGUESE PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Dredge chops in flour. In a large skillet, heat oil and fry chops until golden brown on both sides; remove from skillet.
• Add tomatoes, onion, mushrooms, and garlic; saute for a few minutes. Add sherry, salt and pepper.
• Return chops to skillet and put bell pepper rings on chops. Cover and simmer until chops are tender, about 45 to 50 minutes.

SLOW-COOKED SPICY PORTUGUESE CACOILA

Steps:

• Place pork in a large bowl; add wine, garlic and seasonings. Turn to coat; cover and refrigerate overnight., Transfer pork mixture to a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker; add onion and water. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until meat is tender. , Skim fat. Remove bay leaves. Shred meat with 2 forks. If desired, serve with a slotted spoon on bolillos.

PORTUGUESE-STYLE PORK CHOPS (OR CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Prepare Portuguese-Style Paste (see recipe I posted).
• Place pork chops in a shallow glass dish and rub pepper paste over both sides.
• Pour wine over the chops.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least six hours or overnight, turning once or twice.
• Drain marinade into a small saucepan.
• Add oil and bring to a simmer.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until slighly thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in pepper and salt.
• Measure out 1/4 cup sauce for basting.
• Keep remainder warm.
• Meanwhile, heat grill to medium-high.
• Lightly oil grill rack.
• Place the chops on the grill.
• Cook, basting occasionally with pepper sauce, until browned and just cooked through, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per side for 1/2 inch thick chops.
• Serve immediately, passing remaining pepper sauce separately.
• Variation: Substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts or skinned bone-in chicken for pork chops.
• Allow 4-6 minutes per side for boneless breasts, 20 to 30 minutes for bone-in pieces.
• Serves 6.

PORTUGUESE PORK ALENTEJANA

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine wine, paprika, salt and pepper, blend well. Add garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cubed meat, turn meat in marinade to coat pieces. Marinate for 6 hours, turning occasionally.
• Drain pork; reserve marinade. Pat cubes completely dry. Discard garlic and bay leaf. Melt 1 teaspoon of oil in large skillet. Add pork cubes, stirring frequently so that the meat colors quickly and evenly. Transfer with slotted spoon to a bowl.
• Pour reserved marinade into skillet and bring to a boil over high heat, scraping off any brown particles clinging to the inside of pan. Boil briskly uncovered until marinade is reduced to 1 cup. Pour over pork and set aside.
• In 6 to 8 quart pan, heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil; add onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently until onion is soft but not brown. Add garlic, tomatoes and crushed red pepper. Simmer, stirring constantly for 5 minutes.
• Spread the clams, hinged side down, over the tomato sauce; cover the pan tightly and cook over medium to high heat for ten minutes or until clams open. Stir in reserved pork and juices. Simmer for 5 minutes to heat thoroughly. Sprinkle with parsley.