Sweet Pickle Braised Pork Shoulder Recipes

BRAISED PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• Using a spice grinder, grind the coriander and cumin seeds until they are a fine powder.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the pork shoulder with the ground spices and salt, then tie each piece so they cook evenly.
• Coat a Dutch oven with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Brown the first pork on all sides. Remove the pork from the pan and reserve. Ditch the fat in the pan and give a few drops of new oil. Repeat with the second pork and remove.
• Lower the heat to medium and toss in the fennel and onions and season them with salt and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper. Cook the onions and fennel until they are soft and very aromatic, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook 2 to 3 minutes longer.
• Add the wine and reduce by half. Stir in the mustard and add the bay leaves and thyme. Return the pork to the Dutch oven and add stock to the pan until it comes halfway up the side of the pork. Add salt if needed. Bring the liquid to a boil, cover and put the Dutch oven in the preheated oven.
• After 1 hour, turn the pork over and add more liquid to the pan if the liquid level has gone down. Cover and return to the oven for 1 hour.
• Turn the pork back over and return to the oven without the lid and cook for 45 more minutes. The liquid should concentrate.
• Remove the pan from the oven, remove the pork and reserve for 15 minutes, tented with aluminum foil. Skim any excess fat from the pan and reduce the pan juices, if needed.
• Slice the pork and serve with onions, fennel and juices.
• Wine Pairing Suggestion: Pinot Grigio

BRAISED PORK IN SWEET SOY SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the pork in about 1 inch pieces and saute in a pan with the vegetable oil for about 3 minutes over medium-high heat, until the pork is no longer pink and starts to brown.
• In a medium bowl mix the rest of the ingredients. Pour over the pork and bring to a boil. You may think there's too much water, but it will reduce. Once it's boiling turn the heat down to low and let simmer for about 30 minutes uncovered, stirring occasionally, or until there's only about 3 tbsp of sauce left.
• Garnish with green onions. Serve over noodles or steamed rice.

PICKLED PORK

Steps:

• Combine all of the ingredients except the ice and the pork in a 2-quart nonreactive saucepan, set over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and maintain a simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the ice and stir. Place the pork into a 1-gallon zip top bag and add the cooled pickling liquid. Remove as much air as possible; seal the bag and place in the refrigerator for at least 3 days, turning the bag occasionally. Use within 2 weeks or remove from the pork from the brine and freeze.

SWEET PICKLE BRAISED PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Pat the pork dry and sprinkle with salt. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the pork and brown on all sides. Add the relish, barbecue sauce, and 2 cups of water and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot and transfer to the oven. Braise the pork, turning over once, until the center is tender but not falling apart when pierced with a paring knife, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
• Transfer the pork to a cutting board and tent with foil.
• Strain the braising liquid through a sieve into a bowl and discard the solids. Skim the fat that collects on the surface and cover the bowl to keep the liquid warm.
• Cut the meat across the grain into 6 slices. Heat the vegetable oil in a 12 inch heavy nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Sear the pork slices in batches, until browned on each side.
• Transfer the pork to plates and spoon some braising liquid over the top.