Portuguese Pork Loin Recipes

ROASTED PORTUGUESE PORK LOIN WITH HOMEMADE PIMENTA MOIDA

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, score the fat on the top of the roast in a crosshatch pattern, cutting just into the meat layer so the marinade can penetrate it. Place the roast in a baking pan and season on all sides with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Pat the garlic all over the roast, then coat on all sides with the pimenta moida, rubbing the seasonings into the slits on the top of the roast. Sprinkle the cilantro all over the roast, then drizzle with 1/2 cup of the oil, and rub all the seasonings to evenly distribute. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• Allow the roast to come to room temperature, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Transfer the roast to a baking pan large enough to hold it and the potatoes in one layer. Drizzle some of the marinade juices over the top of the roast. Place the potatoes in the first pan and toss with the remaining marinade. Add the potatoes and marinade to the roast, arranging the potatoes around it; sprinkle the potatoes with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pinch of pepper, and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Roast the pork until lightly golden and the slits on top of the roast have opened up, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the roast registers 140 degrees F, 35 to 40 minutes longer. Remove from the oven and set aside to rest at least 15 minutes before serving. (If the potatoes are not yet golden around the edges and cooked through, transfer the roast to a plate, then return the potatoes to the oven and roast for 10 to 15 minutes longer while the meat rests.) Carve the roast into thin slices and serve with the potatoes, drizzling any pan drippings over the pork.

PORTUGUESE PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large bowl; drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt; toss to coat. , Transfer to a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 400° for 40-45 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. , Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the red wine, port wine, plums and rosemary. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced to about 1 cup, about 25-30 minutes. Remove rosemary and discard. Transfer to a blender; cover and process until smooth. Set aside., Sprinkle pork with remaining pepper and salt. In a large skillet, brown pork in remaining oil; remove and keep warm., Add the broth, cream cheese, cream and plum mixture to skillet; cook over medium-low heat until blended. Return pork to the pan; cook and stir for 8-10 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Serve pork and sauce with potatoes. Garnish with additional rosemary if desired.

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 CUTLETS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except pork and cooking oil and pour over pork in a non-reactive container. Let marinate for between 6 and 48 hours (refrigerate for longer than 6 hours).
• Heat frying pan over medium heat and add just enough oil to cover the bottom. Cook pork cutlets two or three at a time until done. Keep finished cutlets warm in a low oven while cooking the others.
• When all the meat is cooked, drain off excess oil and pour the excess marinade into the pan. Cook over medium high heat for about 10 minutes, or until the sauce is thick like gravy.
• Serve the pork cutlets with marinade on top. Rice and/or fried potatoes are essential with this, as is a green salad.

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.

PORTUGUESE PORK WITH RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• With a large mortar and pestle, mash the garlic, coarse salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and peppercorns into a fine paste. Transfer to a large bowl.
• With a mallet, flatten the pork medallions to 1/4 inch thick. Place in the bowl with the garlic mixture, tossing to coat. Cover, and marinate 2 to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
• Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over high heat. Stir in the pork and remaining garlic mixture. Quickly brown pork about 1 minute on each side. Remove from heat, and set aside.
• Place red peppers into the skillet, and saute 2 to 5 minutes, until tender but firm. Pour white wine into the skillet, and scrape up the browned bits. Reduce heat to low, return pork to skillet, and continue cooking 10 to 15 minutes, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (80 degrees C).
• Slice 1 1/2 lemons into thin rounds. Transfer the pork and pepper mixture to a serving platter. Squeeze juice of remaining 1/2 lemon over the pork and peppers, and garnish with the lemon rounds.

PORTUGUESE PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Season flour with salt, pepper and paprika.
• Roll tenderloin in seasoned flour.
• Saute pork in butter until golden brown.
• Add sliced onions and mushrooms.
• Saute for a minute or two.
• Add wine and rosemary.
• Cover and cook over low heat for 45 to 60 minutes, or until done.
• Add lemon juice and parsley just before serving.