Spiced Pork With Celery Root Purée And Lentils Recipes

SPICE-RUBBED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH CELERY ROOT-APPLE PUREE AND CIDER GRAVY

Steps:

• Make Puree:
• Combine celery root, onion, apple, sage and chicken broth in a 4-quart saucepan, Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, until celery root is tender. Remove sage leaves and drain stock, reserving liquid. Place cooked mixture into a food processor with salt and add 1/2 cup reserved liquid, then more liquid by the tablespoon to achieve desired consistency. Puree for 30 seconds until smooth. Reserve (mixture will stay warm in food processor bowl for about 30 minutes).
• Make Pork: Preheat broiler. Pat pork loin dry with paper towels. Combine sugar, celery seed, sage, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture all over pork loin. Place on broiling tray and broil approximately 7 to 8 minutes per side, until meat is cooked but still pinkish in center. Remove and let rest 5 minutes, then slice into 1/4-inch slices.
• Make Gravy:
• Heat oil in a medium-sized saute pan over medium heat, Saute shallots, stirring often, until soft and translucent but not brown about 5 minutes. Add apple cider and cook until all but 2 tablespoons of the cider has been cooked away and shallots are glazed with reduced cider, about 4-5 minutes. Add chicken broth, vinegar and salt and cook an additional 2 minutes. To serve, spoon 1 cup puree onto a plate. Top with 4 slices of pork and 1 1/2 tablespoons cider gravy.

SPICED PORK WITH CELERY ROOT PURéE AND LENTILS

Steps:

• For celery root puree:
• Bring celery root and milk to boil in heavy large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until celery root is very tender, about 20 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer celery root to processor. Add 1/2 cup hot milk. Puree until very smooth. Blend in butter and lemon juice. Season with salt and white pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• For lentils:
• Sauté bacon in medium saucepan over medium-high heat until crisp, about 3 minutes. Add carrots, shallots, and rosemary; sauté until shallots begin to soften, about 1 minute. Add lentils and 3 cups water; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until lentils are tender and liquid has nearly evaporated, about 35 minutes. Stir in butter. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• For pork:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk first 4 ingredients in bowl. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add pork; sauté until brown on all sides, about 6 minutes total. Brush pork with honey mixture. Transfer skillet to oven; roast pork 10 minutes. Turn pork over and brush with honey mixture. Roast until thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 145°F, about 10 minutes longer. Transfer pork to work surface; tent with foil (temperature will increase 5 degrees).
• Add broth and remaining honey mixture to same skillet. Boil over high heat until sauce is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Strain sauce into small bowl. Return sauce to skillet. Whisk in butter. Season with salt and pepper.
• Rewarm celery root puree and lentils. Cut pork crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place 1/2 cup celery root puree in center of each of 6 plates. Using back of spoon, make indentation in puree. Spoon 1/2 cup lentils into indentation on each plate. Arrange pork slices atop lentils and drizzle with sauce.