CIDER-BRAISED PORK SHOULDER WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS (an old, old recipe)
Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 3 hr
1 (3- to 4-lb) bone-in fresh pork shoulder half
2 garlic cloves, cut into slivers
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 lb onions ++, halved lengthwise, then cut lengthwise into 1/4 “ thick slices
3/4 cup unfiltered apple cider (I used a good British one)
Preheat oven to 325̊F.
Remove the large deposits of fat from the surface. Make slits all over meat with a small sharp knife and insert a garlic sliver in each slit. Pat pork dry and season with salt and pepper.
Heat oil in a 4- to 5-quart ovenproof heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown meat on all sides, turning occasionally with the aid of tongs and a carving fork, about 8 minutes. Transfer pork to a plate.
Add onions to pot and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to turn golden, about 5 minutes. Add 3/4 teaspoon salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden and caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes more. If you have trouble caramelizing, then cover for 15 minutes, but they should be completely soft.
Stir in cider and return pork to pot.
Cover pot with a tight-fitting lid and braise pork in middle of oven until very tender, 2 - 2 ½ hours, depending on the size of roast. You may want to put foil around the edge of the pot where it meets the lid, to ensure little moisture loss.
Transfer pork to a serving dish with the aid of tongs and carving fork. Boil cooking juices with onions until mixture is reduced to about 2 cups, 2 to 3 minutes, then season with salt and pepper and serve with pork.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
I served it with grainy Dijon mashed potatoes with roasted garlic.
Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 3 hr
1 (3- to 4-lb) bone-in fresh pork shoulder half
2 garlic cloves, cut into slivers
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 lb onions ++, halved lengthwise, then cut lengthwise into 1/4 “ thick slices
3/4 cup unfiltered apple cider (I used a good British one)
Preheat oven to 325̊F.
Remove the large deposits of fat from the surface. Make slits all over meat with a small sharp knife and insert a garlic sliver in each slit. Pat pork dry and season with salt and pepper.
Heat oil in a 4- to 5-quart ovenproof heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown meat on all sides, turning occasionally with the aid of tongs and a carving fork, about 8 minutes. Transfer pork to a plate.
Add onions to pot and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to turn golden, about 5 minutes. Add 3/4 teaspoon salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden and caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes more. If you have trouble caramelizing, then cover for 15 minutes, but they should be completely soft.
Stir in cider and return pork to pot.
Cover pot with a tight-fitting lid and braise pork in middle of oven until very tender, 2 - 2 ½ hours, depending on the size of roast. You may want to put foil around the edge of the pot where it meets the lid, to ensure little moisture loss.
Transfer pork to a serving dish with the aid of tongs and carving fork. Boil cooking juices with onions until mixture is reduced to about 2 cups, 2 to 3 minutes, then season with salt and pepper and serve with pork.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
I served it with grainy Dijon mashed potatoes with roasted garlic.
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