Candy Pork Recipes

CANDY PORK

Steps:

• Put the palm sugar in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until the sugar melts, about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently so the sugar doesn't scorch. When the sugar is smooth and completely melted, remove the pan from the heat and slowly stir in the fish sauce. The mixture may seize; if it does, return it to low heat and continue stirring until smooth.
• Preheat the oven to 300°F. In a large Dutch oven over high heat, heat the canola oil. Season the pork pieces on all sides with salt and pepper. When the oil is hot, add some of the pieces of pork and sear until well browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and repeat with the remaining pork. When all the pork has been browned, reduce the heat to medium and add the shallots. Cook, stirring, until the shallots are softened, about 2 minutes, then add the ginger, garlic, and chilies and cook 1 minute more. Return the pork and any accumulated juices to the pot and add the caramel sauce and coconut water. The pieces of meat should poke up above the level of the liquid; if they're completely submerged, transfer the meat and liquid to a different pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat so the liquid is simmering. Cover the pot and transfer to the oven.
• After 15 minutes of cooking, uncover the pot; the liquid should be simmering gently. If it's bubbling too vigorously, reduce the oven temperature to 275°F. Cook for 70 minutes-the meat should be tender but not falling apart. Uncover the pot and continue cooking for 30 minutes more, until the exposed bits of pork are caramelized and the meat is tender. Remove from the oven and serve with steamed rice.

"PORK CANDY"

Steps:

• For the apple cider glaze: Combine the brown sugar, vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• For the Greek seasoning blend and pork: Oil a grill pan and place over medium heat.
• Put the oregano, garlic powder, thyme, dill, beef bouillon powder, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well. Drizzle some oil over the pork and sprinkle the seasoning blend on all sides of the meat. Add the pork steaks to the grill pan and grill until cooked to medium, 7 to 10 minutes. Brush the apple cider glaze over the pork in the last couple minutes of cooking.

CANDIED PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275°.(I did 250) In a small bowl, whisk together the smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, cayenne, salt and black pepper. Rub the mixture all over the pork shoulder and set aside for 30 minutes.
• Set the pork onto a rack-lined roasting pan and place in the oven. Cook until the flesh is fork tender and the bone moves around easily with no resistance, about 5 hours (I cooked 8 hours).
• When the pork has about 15 minutes cooking time left, make the glaze: In a medium saucepot set over medium heat, bring the brown sugar and bourbon to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced by one-quarter, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the pork from the oven and brush one-third of the glaze all over the shoulder. Continue to roast for 30 minutes longer, glazing the roast every 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to rest for 15 minutes before breaking the meat apart into big pieces. (I chopped mine) Serve.
• I also made another reduction of some light brown sugar with just enough water to fully melt the sugar. I let it reduce some then added more bourbon. I poured this over the chopped pork as a BBQ type sauce.