Pesto Pork With Polenta Recipes

PORCHETTA AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Prepare the pork: To butterfly, slice down the middle of the pork with a sharp knife, about two-thirds of the way through. Open the meat like a book and pound with a mallet or heavy skillet into a 1-inch-thick rectangle, about
• 8 by 14 inches. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Season the pork with about 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. In a small bowl, mix the lemon zest, garlic, 2 teaspoons fennel seeds, the sage, rosemary and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Rub the mixture all over the pork, then roll it up tightly and tie with twine. Drizzle the roll with olive oil and rub all over; sprinkle with pepper and more fennel seeds. (The roll can be prepared up to 3 days in advance; refrigerate until roasting.)
• Place the pork roll on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Roast until a thermometer inserted into the middle registers 180 degrees and the pork is crusty on the outside, about 2 hours. Let rest 15 minutes before slicing.
• While the pork roasts, make the pickled onions: Bring the vinegar, sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, the bay leaf, fennel seeds and red pepper flakes to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion slices and simmer 1 minute, then remove from the heat and let the onion cool in the liquid. (Leftover pickled onions will keep in the liquid for weeks.)
• Prepare the polenta: Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and fry the polenta until golden and crisp, about 4 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. To assemble, arrange the polenta on a platter or individual plates. Thinly slice the pork roll, then cut into bite-size pieces and pile on the polenta. Top with pickled onions and serve warm or at room temperature.

PORCINI-CRUSTED PORK WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Process mushrooms in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a shallow bowl; stir in salt and pepper. Press 1 side of each pork chop into mushroom mixture., In a large ovenproof skillet coated with cooking spray, heat oil over medium-high heat. Place chops, mushroom side down, in skillet; cook for 2 minutes. Turn over; cook 2 minutes longer. Bake, uncovered, at 375° until at thermometer inserted in pork reads 145°, 20-25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving., Prepare polenta according to package directions for soft polenta. Stir in cheese and rosemary. Serve with pork chops.

ROASTED PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Trim the tenderloin, pat dry and place on a large plate.
• Rub the pork tenderloins with the olive oil then season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl mix together the thyme, mustard and brown sugar and rub the mixture evenly over the tenderloins. Let this sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Place an oven-safe skillet (like cast iron) over medium-high heat. When the skillet gets hot, add the olive oil and brown the tenderloins well on all sides. When they are nicely browned, add the warm stock and gently scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze.
• Transfer the skillet to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Insert a meat thermometer in the thickest portion of the tenderloin, and when it registers 155°F, it is ready. Remove the meat from the oven, cover loosely with foil, and let stand for 10 minutes (it will continue cooking while resting). When you are ready to serve, slice it on an angle and spoon some of its juices over it.
• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Bring 4½ cups water to a simmer in a large ovenproof saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and the salt and whisk until the butter is melted. Gradually stir in the polenta--do not add it all at once or you will end up with clumps. Whisk the mixture constantly until the polenta comes to a boil.
• Cover the pot with a lid, and transfer it to the lower rack in the oven. Bake until the polenta is tender, about 25-30 minutes. Remove the polenta from oven.
• Meanwhile, carefully uncover the saucepan and whisk the polenta vigorously, scraping bottom of pan to keep any from burning. At that point the polenta should be smooth. Slowly add the Parmesan cheese, whisking constantly until the cheese is melted and the polenta is smooth and thick. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Cover until ready to serve. If necessary, reheat over low heat when ready to serve.
• Divide the polenta among warmed bowls and top with more Parmesan. Serve at once.

PESTO PORK ROAST

Steps:

• For pesto, in a blender, combine 1/4 cup oil, basil, cheese and garlic. Cover and process until blended. Remove 2 tablespoons pesto to a small bowl; stir in remaining oil and set aside., Cut each tomato into four slices; place in a greased shallow roasting pan. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sprinkle remaining pepper and salt over roast; place over tomato slices. Spread remaining pesto over roast. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°. , Remove roast and keep warm. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing. Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions; drain and place in a large bowl. With a slotted spoon, add tomatoes to noodles; add reserved pesto and toss to coat. Serve with pork.

PESTO POLENTA LASAGNA--SUPER EASY!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Oil an 11x7x2 inch baking dish.
• Arrange a single layer of polenta in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• Spread a thin layer of pesto over the polenta.
• Spoon half of the sauce over the polenta.
• Top with another layer of polenta and sauce.
• Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes.
• Turn on the broiler.
• Top polenta with cheese and pine nuts, and broil until cheese browns and nuts are toasted.

PESTO PORK

Steps:

• Cut pork loin into 1/2-inch slices.
• Place flour in a shallow dish.
• Season pork medallions with salt and pepper, then place in flour and coat evenly on both sides.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add pork and cook in batches for 2-4 minutes per side, or until golden, adding more butter as needed.
• Remove pork to a covered platter to keep warm.
• Add cream and pesto to skillet; mix well.
• Add tomatoes and cook 3-5 minutes, or until thoroughly heated.
• Pour over pork medallions and serve.

PARMESAN PORK WITH POLENTA AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Pound cutlets to 1/4 inch thick; season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with juice of 1/2 lemon, turning to evenly coat. Stir together Parmesan and flour on a plate. Dredge cutlets in Parmesan mixture, pressing to adhere.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. When oil shimmers, add 4 cutlets in a single layer; cook, flipping once, until golden brown and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Wipe skillet clean; repeat with 2 more tablespoons oil and remaining 4 cutlets. Wipe skillet clean; heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in skillet over medium-high. Add polenta and cook, flipping once, until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook asparagus in a pot of generously salted boiling water until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and transfer to plates. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with oil, and top with finely grated lemon zest and shaved Parmesan. Serve with cutlets, polenta, and lemon wedges.

PESTO POLENTA LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oil an 11x7x2 inch baking dish.
• Arrange a single layer of polenta in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread a thin layer of pesto over the polenta. Spoon half of the sauce over the polenta. Top with another layer of polenta and sauce.
• Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes. Turn on the broiler. Top polenta with cheese and pine nuts, and broil until cheese browns and nuts are toasted.

MOZZARELLA-STUFFED PORK CHOPS WITH POLENTA AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat broiler on high and set oven rack 4 inches from heat. Line broiler pan or rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• In a medium saucepan, prepare polenta according to package directions.
• While polenta is cooking, prepare the pork chops. Place chops flat on cutting board and, using a sharp paring knife, make a horizontal slit 3 to 4 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches long in the side of each chop. Spread each mozzarella slice with 1 teaspoon anchovy paste. Stuff a piece of mozzarella inside each chop, press the pork closed, and secure with a toothpick.
• Rub the chops with 1 tablespoon oil, season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and place on the foil-lined pan. Broil until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm remaining 1/4 cup oil. Add garlic, tomatoes, and broth. Cover and cook until tomatoes softened and just beginning to burst, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove cover and discard garlic. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• When the polenta is cooked, whisk in enough milk to thin the polenta to your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Serve pork chops over polenta, topped with tomato pan sauce and parsley.