CAUCASUS-STYLE BRAISED PORK SHOULDER

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Caucasus-Style Braised Pork Shoulder image

Categories     Garlic     Herb     Onion     Pork     Braise     Marinate     Gourmet

Yield Makes 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 large garlic cloves
3 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
3/4 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 (5-pound) bone-in pork shoulder roast (also called picnic roast), trimmed of excess fat and skin discarded
1 large red onion, chopped
2 cups water
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
Special Equipment
an electric coffee/spice grinder

Steps:

  • Mince garlic, then mash to a paste with 2 teaspoons kosher salt using a heavy knife. Grind coriander and fenugreek seeds and red-pepper flakes to a powder in grinder, then stir together with garlic and 2 tablespoons oil in a small bowl. Make 2-inch-deep slits all over meat with a small sharp knife and push some of paste into slits. Rub remaining paste all over meat. Put pork in a bowl and marinate, covered and chilled, at least 8 hours.
  • Bring meat to room temperature, about 1 hour.
  • Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a wide 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown pork on all sides, turning with tongs and a large kitchen fork, about 8 minutes total. Transfer pork to a large plate and cook onion in fat remaining in pot, stirring occasionally and scraping up brown bits, until beginning to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Return pork to pot and add water and remaining teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then cover tightly with lid and transfer to oven. Braise, turning meat once, until very tender, about 3 hours. Cool pork in pan juices completely, uncovered, about 1 1/2 hours, then chill, covered, at least 8 hours.
  • Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Remove fat from surface of pan juices and reheat pork (with pan juices), covered, in oven 1 hour. Transfer pork to a platter using cleaned tongs and large fork. Stir cilantro, vinegar, and table salt and pepper to taste into pan juices and serve with pork.

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