CRISP BRAISED PORK SHOULDER

Crisp Braised Pork Shoulder image

Provided by Melissa Roberts

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

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1 (4 1/2-lb) solid piece boneless pork shoulder (not lean; from picnic side)
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 celery ribs, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 onion, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 Turkish bay leaves or 1 California
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon juniper berries
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
3 cups water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Special Equipment
a wide 5- to 6-qt heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid

Steps:

Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350°F.
Pat pork dry and sprinkle all over with salt. Heat olive oil in pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown pork on all sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer to a plate. Add carrots, celery, and onion to pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 10 minutes. Return pork to pot, along with bay leaves, spices, and water, and bring to a simmer. Cover pot with lid, then transfer to oven and braise, turning pork over once, until center is tender but not falling apart when pierced with a paring knife, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
Transfer pork to a cutting board and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Pour braising liquid through a sieve into a bowl, discarding solids. Skim off fat and keep liquid warm, covered.
Cut meat across the grain into 6 slices (each slice may break into 2 or 3 smaller pieces, depending on part of shoulder you have; discard string if necessary). Heat vegetable oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sear pork slices in 2 batches, turning over once, about 3 minutes per batch. Transfer to plates as browned and spoon some braising liquid over pork. Serve with remaining braising liquid.