Portuguese Style Garlic Roasted Pork 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.

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.

TORRESMOS-PORTUGUESE GARLIC ROASTED PORK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Place the peppers and salt into a food processor and mince.
• Combine the minced peppers with the garlic, paprika, white wine and red wine in a large glass bowl.
• Add the pork pieces to the marinade, making sure the pork is coated well.
• Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
• After 24 hours remove pork, and discard the marinade.
• Pour oil into a large roasting pan, place the pork in the roasting pan and season with salt and pepper.
• Roast at 375 degrees for about 1 hour (turn the pork regularly to make sure pork stays moist).
• Depending on the cut and how thick your pork pieces are, cooking time may need to be adjusted. Pork should register at least 160-170 degrees for safety.
• I have not tried this yet, but was thinking of marinating a whole pork shoulder or loin roast and trying it in the crockpot.

PORTUGUESE GARLIC ROASTED PORK (TORRESMOS)

Steps:

• Cut the pork into 2 inch cubes and separate the ribs, then place in a large container with a lid. Combine all of the remaining ingredients (except the lard) and pour over the pork, turning to coat.
• Let the meat marinade for between 24 & 48 hours in the refrigerator, turning several times.
• When ready to cook, remove the meat from the fridge at least 30 minutes before using.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F Melt the lard in the roasting pan.
• Remove the pork from the marinade and discard the marinade.
• Add the pork and red peppers to the melted lard and cook covered until the pork is cooked, turning occasionally.

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-STYLE PORK AND CLAMS WITH CHORIZO AND FRIED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°F.
• Heat a large sauté pan over high heat for 2 minutes. Swirl in the pork fat and wait 1 minute. Taste a piece of the pork confit to see if it needs more seasoning. Season with salt and pepper, if necessary. Place the pork confit in the pan, being careful not to crowd it. (You may need to do this in two pans or two batches.) Sear the pork 4 to 5 minutes on the first side. When the first side is nicely caramelized, turn the pork cubes over, and brown them on all sides. Stir in the fried potatoes, heat them through, and coat them well with the pork fat. Transfer the pan to the oven to keep it warm.
• Heat a Dutch oven over high heat for 2 minutes. Swirl in the olive oil and wait 1 minute. Crumble the chorizo into the pan, and sauté about 4 minutes, until the sausage is crisped on one side but not fully cooked. Add the shallots and thyme, stirring to coat them with the chorizo oil. Add the clams and the roasted tomatoes, stirring for about 2 minutes to combine all the ingredients and coat the clams. Pour in the vermouth and cover the pan. Let the clams steam a few minutes, until they open. Remove the lid and add the stock. Discard any unopened clams. Bring to a simmer, stirring well to combine the flavors, and swirl in the butter. Taste for seasoning. Spoon the clams and chorizo into a large, warm, shallow bowl.
• Meanwhile, take the pork out of the oven and return it to the stove, over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir well, so that it coats the meat and potatoes. After a minute or two, when the garlic is translucent and just starting to color, stir in the parsley. Arrange the pork and potatoes over the clams and chorizo.
• Serve with a large serving spoon and lots of crusty bread. If you are feeling over the top, a bowl of aïoli would really gild the lily (see page 148).
• Fried Potatoes
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Place the potatoes in a roasting pan, and toss well with 2 tablespoons olive oil, the garlic, bay leaves, thyme sprigs, and 1 heaping teaspoon salt. Cover tightly with aluminum foil, and roast the potatoes about 50 minutes, until they're tender. (The time will really depend on size, age, and variety of potatoes.) When the potatoes have cooled, peel them, discard the bay leaves and thyme, and crumble the potatoes into chunky pieces with your hands.
• Heat a large sauté pan over high heat for 2 minutes. (To get the potatoes nicely browned and crisp, don't overcrowd them. You may have to use two pans or brown them in batches.) Swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and wait 1 more minute. Add the crumbled potatoes, and season with the thyme leaves, salt, and pepper. Sauté the potatoes until they are crispy on one side. (Don't try to move them or turn them if they are stuck to the pan; they will eventually release themselves, just be patient.) After about 8 minutes, when they've browned nicely on the first side, stir them to let them color on all sides. Serve immediately, or set aside on a baking sheet.
• Roasted Tomatoes
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Slice the tomatoes in half lengthwise, toss them with the olive oil, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Place the tomatoes, cut side down, on a baking sheet, and roast in the oven 30 to 40 minutes, until their skins blister and shrivel. When the tomatoes have cooled, pull off their skins and crush them gently with your hands.
• Note
• This is one of the more involved recipes in this book, but if you plan ahead and prep well, it's actually simple the evening of the dinner. Confit the pork a day or two in advance (remember, it will need to sit in the brine for 2 days before that!). Roast the tomatoes and potatoes in the morning, and then, closer to dinnertime, fry the potatoes and set them aside. The sautéing of the pork and steaming of the clams should be done at the last minute.

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.