Best Pepper Pork Pockets Recipes

PEPPERED PORK PITAS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine pork, oil, pepper and garlic; toss to coat. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork mixture; cook and stir until no longer pink. Stir in red peppers; heat through. Serve on pita breads. Top with mayonnaise and lettuce if desired.

BRAISED PORK AND VEGGIE POCKETS

Steps:

• For the pork: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the salt, chili powder, cumin, mustard, sage, paprika, cinnamon and cracked black pepper. Massage the pork shoulder all over with the dry rub.
• Place a large Dutch oven over high heat. Add the oil and heat until shimmering. Put the pork shoulder in the pot and sear on all sides until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Set the pork aside.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the red onion and orange to the pot. Cook, stirring, until the orange edges are caramelized, about 6 minutes. Put the pork back in and pour in the sweet tea. The tea should cover about two-thirds of the pork; it should not be fully submerged. Cover the pot with a lid. Oven-braise the pork, turning it over halfway through the cooking time, until fork-tender, about 2 hours.
• For the pockets: Meanwhile, assemble the vegetable filling. Squeeze the spinach to remove all of the moisture. Use your fingers to break up the spinach as you sprinkle it into a large mixing bowl. Add the black beans, corn, pepper jack, Cheddar, pickled jalapenos, cilantro, salt, black pepper, scallion and bell pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine.
• Remove the pork from the pot and discard the cooking liquid. Using 2 forks, shred the pork into bite-size chunks, making sure to discard any fatty pieces. Add the pork to the vegetable filling and toss to combine.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread 2 rounds of pie crust dough onto a surface lightly dusted with flour. Place six 1/4-cup mounds of filling onto the first round of pie dough, leaving space in between each mound. Lay the second round of dough directly on top of the mounds. Using a pizza cutter, make slices in the dough to separate each mound and form a triangular pocket.
• Working with one triangle at a time, press the tip of a fork along the edges to seal the pocket on all 3 sides. Place the sealed pocket on one of the parchment-lined baking sheets. Continue with the remaining dough and filling. Brush the triangles with the beaten egg to ensure even browning. Bake until golden brown and crispy, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm.

MOO SHU PORK POCKETS

Steps:

• Combine the pork, cabbage, cayenne pepper, garlic, gingersnap cookies, and soy sauce in a bowl. Form mixture into patties. Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add wok or vegetable oil to the pan. Cook patties 7 minutes on each side.
• Heat tortillas on a nonstick surface over high heat for 30 seconds on each side. Paint the tortillas with hoisin sauce, leaving a 1-inch rim from edge. Pile shredded mixed veggies in center of tortilla and top with cooked pork patty. Fold the tortilla up on all four sides and wrap burger in a square package. Invert pork pocket and cut on diagonal. Serve pockets with jasmine rice sundaes and cucumber salad.
• Scoop prepared jasmine rice onto dinner plates using an ice cream scoop. Top with duck sauce and toasted sesame seed "sprinkles". This is a great use for those packets of leftover duck sauce that clutter up your junk drawers in the kitchen and kids love the look of the technique.
• Spread cucumber slices in a thin layer on double-ply paper towels. Roll paper towels up to squeeze water from sliced cucumbers. Transfer sliced cucumbers to a bowl and toss with sliced peppers.
• Combine remaining ingredients in a small plastic container and shake until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Pour the dressing over the cucumbers, toss, and serve.

PEPPER PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Combine the vegetable broth, 1/2 cup kosher salt, brown sugar and peppercorns in a medium saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Cook just until the salt and sugar dissolve, and then remove from the heat and add the ice. Place the pork chops into a 2-gallon zip-top bag along with the brine and seal. Place in a plastic container and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the chops from the brine, rinse and pat dry. Sprinkle on both sides with the remaining 2 teaspoons kosher salt and set aside.
• Place the apples in a 5 1/2- to 6-quart slow cooker.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 12-inch stainless steel saute pan over medium-high heat. Saute the pork chops on both sides until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Once browned, place the pork chops into the slow cooker atop the apples. Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the pan, followed by the onions, and saute until they begin to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth to the pan to deglaze. Add the black pepper and thyme and stir to combine. Transfer this to the slow cooker, set to high, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Decrease the heat to low and continue cooking until the pork is tender and falling away from the bone, another 4 hours and 30 minutes.

SKILLET PORK AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Slice the pork on an angle into 1-inch-thick pieces; season with salt. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat; add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the onion and bell peppers; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until the vegetables are crisp-tender and slightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet. Add the pork and sear over high heat until browned, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the pork to the plate with the onion and peppers.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic, sage and tomato paste to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until the tomato paste turns brick-red, about 1 minute. Add the pepperoncini slices and their liquid, then pour in the wine and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon or spatula. Add the broth and return to a simmer. Arrange the pork in a single layer in the skillet; add the onion and peppers and sprinkle with cheese. Transfer to the oven and broil until the pork is cooked through, 4 to 7 minutes.
• Photography by Antonis Achilleos

ROUND 2 RECIPE - COWBOY POCKETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, combine pork, onion, garlic, chili sauce, and cheese. Mix together and set aside.
• Divide the pizza dough into 4 pieces. Roll each piece into a round about 4 to 5 inches in diameter on a lightly floured surface. Divide filling mixture among the dough rounds. Brush perimeter of dough with egg wash and fold in half. Fold the edges up to seal and transfer to prepared baking sheet. Cut a small vent in each pocket and brush with egg wash. Bake in preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
• Preheat grill or grill pan over medium heat.
• Cut the dough in half and save 1 half for the round 2 recipes. On a lightly floured work surface roll the remaining half out into a rectangular shape about 1/4-inch thick.
• Place the dough onto an oiled grilled grate. Brush the top with half of the reserved marinade. Grill for 4 minutes. Flip the bread and top with remaining marinade and grill for another 3 minutes.
• Remove bread from the grill to a cutting board, cut into pieces and serve warm.
• In a large pot over medium-high heat, add 1 cup of water, apple juice, pepper, salt, sugar and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer making sure to stir occasionally to dissolve the salt and sugar. Remove from heat and add to a large bowl with 2 cups of ice.
• Once the brined has cooled add pork chops. Brine for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• Remove pork from brine, rinse with cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
• Heat grill or grill pan over medium heat. Sprinkle 1 side of the pork chops with 1/2 the grill seasoning. Place chops on hot oiled grill, seasoned side down. Sprinkle the topside with remaining grill seasoning. Grill chops for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

PEPPER PORK POCKETS

Steps:

• Sprinkle pork with pepper and salt, in a large skillet, saute pork in oil until juices run clear.
• Add red peppers; cook and stir until heated through. Remove from theheat.
• In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, milk andgarlic.
• Spoon pork misture into lettuce-lined pita halves.
• Drizzle with dressing.

ASIAN PORK POCKETS

Steps:

• 1. Pre-heat oven to 375 deg. F.
• 2. Heat a 12", non-stick sauté pan to medium high. Break-up the ground pork into the pan and season with ¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the pork is beginning to brown.
• 3. Lower the heat to medium, add the garlic and ginger and continue to cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 4. As the pork is cooking, add all of the vegetables into the pork mixture and add the Sirracha sauce. Continue to cook until the vegetables are cooked through but still a little crunchy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• 5. On a lightly floured surface, open one roll of Crescent Roll dough at a time, and separate into 8 individual triangles. Brush a little of the hoisen sauce on each triangle. Spoon 1-1/2 to 2 tablespoons of the pork mixture onto the middle of each triangle. Because not all of the triangles are of equal size the amount will vary slightly. Turn up the long, flat edge slightly and then bring up the pointed ends to the middle and pinch together.
• 6. Repeat the process with the other three tubes of dough.
• 7. Place all of the filled triangles on two 12" x 17" cookie sheets sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and bake for 15 minutes until they are golden brown.
• 8. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve with the dipping sauce.

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.

PORK CHOP POCKETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven or grill to 350F, cut 4 1 1/2 feet long pieces of foil and place a pork chop in the center of two.
• Top evenly with the onions, peppers, mushrooms, and garlic.
• Sprinkle with the seasoning salt (1 teaspoon per pocket).
• Lay the other two pieces of foil on top with the first two and tightly roll the edges in.
• Poke 2 holes in the tops of each bag and bake or grill for 30 minutes.