Slow Cooker Parmesan Sage Pork Loin And Watercress Salad With Sliced Pears Goat Cheese And Toasted Pine Nuts Recipes

WATERCRESS, ROCKET, SWEET PEAR, WALNUT AND PARMESAN SALAD

Steps:

• What a pukka combination, simple and classy. Don't try to make this when you feel like it, make it when you can buy perfect pears, otherwise it will taste naff. For 1 person I normally use around 1/2 a pear, 2 big handfuls of watercress and 2 big handfuls of rocket. If the pear skins are nice I just give them a wash, if not I remove them with a peeler. Then cut them in 1/2 and deseed. It doesn't really matter how you cut them up. Sometimes in big rough chunks, maybe sliced up or even grated. Then place into a bowl with the watercress and rocket. The pepperiness of the leaves works so well with the sweetness of the pear. Drizzle with good extra-virgin olive oil just to coat, a small squeeze of lemon juice (because the pear juice is slightly acidic but very tasty), and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss all this together and serve. Shave over Parmesan or pecornio, crumble your nuts over and tuck in. I love this salad with roasted meat or as a starter on its own.

SLOW COOKER PORK LOIN

Steps:

• Trim the visible fat from the loin. If necessary, cut the roast to fit into a 3 1/2-, 4- or 5-quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, ginger, thyme and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Rub the spice mixture over the entire surface of the loin.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium to medium-high heat and brown the loin slowly on all sides. Drain off the fat. Transfer the loin to the slow cooker. Combine the chicken broth, lemon juice and soy sauce in a small bowl; pour over the loin. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. When the roast is done, transfer the meat to a serving platter and cover to keep it warm.
• To make the gravy, pour the juices from the slow cooker into a glass measuring cup. Skim off the fat. Measure 2 cups of liquid, adding water to the juices if necessary to make 2 cups. Transfer the juices to a saucepan, reserving 1/2 cup. Stir the cornstarch into the reserved 1/2 cup of juices until dissolved, then stir into the juices in the saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the gravy is thickened and bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Season the gravy to taste with salt and pepper. Slice the roast and serve it with the gravy.

SLOW COOKER PORK LOIN

Steps:

• Lightly crush the fennel seeds with the leaves from the thyme and the garlic in a pestle and mortar. Add 1 tbsp oil and plenty of salt and pepper, then bash to a rough paste. Rub all over the pork, then cover and chill for up to 24 hrs, if you have time (2 hrs if not).
• Set your slow cooker to a low heat. Pour a kettleful of boiling water over the shallots, then set aside for 2 mins until cool enough to handle - this will make them easier to peel. Cut off the root and remove the papery skins. Heat the remaining oil in a large casserole or frying pan large enough to fit the pork. Brown the shallots for a few mins then tip into the slow cooker. Add the celeriac and apples, season well and give them a mix.
• Brown the pork in the same pan, on all sides, not forgetting the ends. Sit on top of the veg and apples, fat-side up, nestling the joint in a little so you can fit the lid on. Pour the wine into the frying pan and bubble for a minute, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any tasty bits. Pour in the stock, honey and mustard, bubble for another min, then pour over the pork. Cover with a lid and cook on low for 5-6 hrs (depending on slow cooker size), turning the pork and stirring the veg halfway through cooking.
• Remove the pork, wrap in foil and leave to rest for 10 mins before carving to serve alongside the veg with roast potatoes and greens.

SLOW COOKER PARMESAN HONEY PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Prepare slow cooker crock with cooking spray. Lay pork roast into crock.
• Whisk Parmesan cheese, honey, soy sauce, basil, garlic, oil, and salt together in a small bowl; pour over the pork roast.
• Cook until roast is cooked completely through, 6 to 7 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Remove roast to a cutting board to rest a few minutes.
• Skim fat from the cooking juices; discard. Ladle remaining juice to a small saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Whisk cornstarch into cold water in a bowl until dissolved; pour into boiling liquid in saucepan. Cook the liquid, stirring frequently, until thickened into a gravy, about 2 minutes.
• Slice pork roast and serve with the gravy.