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A Pork Pot Roast to Rival All Others! – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

A Pork Pot Roast to Rival All Others!

A fall-apart tender pork roast, infused with an aromatic blend of garlic, oregano, and fennel, all wrapped in an impossibly crispy, golden-brown skin. Cooked low and slow in a Dutch oven with hearty root vegetables and kale, this one-pot wonder is the very definition of comfort f
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 serving
Calories: 465

Ingredients
  

  • SPICE RUB
  • 1 tablespoon (10 g / 0.35 oz) garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon (7 g / 0.25 oz) onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon (5 g / 0.18 oz) dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon (10 ml / 0.3 fl oz) fennel seeds
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons (10 ml / 0.3 fl oz) fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml / 0.2 fl oz) ground black pepper
  • POT ROAST
  • 2.65 pounds (1.2 kg / 2.65 lb) boneless pork shoulder
  • 3 tablespoons (45 g / 1.59 oz) ghee or other cooking fat, divided
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) water, plus more if needed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, sliced (about 110 g / 3.9 oz)
  • 3 large celery stalks, sliced (about 192 g / 6.8 oz)
  • 4 medium turnips or kohlrabi, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 800 g / 1.76 lb)
  • 10.6 ounces (300 g / 10.6 oz) dark-leaf kale, chopped and stems removed
  • for the Perfect Pot Roast
  • Use the leftover cooking liquid. Strain the juices from the bottom of the pot, skim the fat, and simmer on the stove. Thicken with a cornstarch slurry to create a rich, delicious gravy.
  • Low and slow is the key to tender, fall-apart meat. Resisting the urge to crank up the heat allows the connective tissues in the pork shoulder to break down properly.

Method
 

  1. Prepare the rub by mixing all the spices in a small bowl.
  2. Pat the pork shoulder dry with a paper towel, then cover it completely in the spice rub, pressing it onto all sides.
  3. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate to marinate for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours. (If you’re short on time, this step can be skipped.)
  4. Preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C.
  5. In a large Dutch oven or heavy-based saucepan, melt half of the ghee over medium-high heat.
  6. Sear the marinated pork on all sides until the spice coating is golden brown, about 1 minute per side.
  7. Transfer the seared pork to a deep casserole dish, add the bay leaves and 1 cup / 240 ml of the water.
  8. Cover with a lid and cook for 3 hours.
  9. While the pork is cooking, prepare the vegetables.
  10. In a large saucepan, melt the remaining ghee over medium-high heat.
  11. Add the onion and cook for 5 to 8 minutes, until lightly browned.
  12. Add the celery, remaining 1/2 cup / 120 ml water, turnips, and kale.
  13. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, just until the kale is wilted.
  14. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  15. After 3 hours, carefully remove the casserole dish from the oven.
  16. Add the browned vegetables to the dish around the pork.
  17. Cover with the lid and return to the oven.
  18. Cook for 1 more hour, or until the vegetables are tender and the pork is easily pierced with a fork.
  19. When done, remove from the oven and let the roast rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
  20. Discard the bay leaves before carving and serving. The roast can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
  21. Don't skip the sear! This step creates the Maillard reaction, building a deep, flavorful crust on the pork that enriches the entire dish.
  22. After searing the pork and veggies, pour a splash of water or broth into the hot pan to deglaze it, scraping up all the browned bits from the bottom.
  23. Add this liquid to the casserole dish for a huge flavor boost.

Nutrition

Calories: 465kcalCarbohydrates: 12.3gProtein: 28.6gFat: 33.4g

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