Poached Pork Belly, Pan Grilled Mango with Rum Sauce over Grits

 

Made this up. As of July 23, 2016, the day that I made this (started brining two days earlier), it is, by far, the best pork belly dish I have ever made.

 

For the Pork Belly

Pork Belly – cross-hatched cut through fat, brined for 24 hours in ¾ gallon water with ¾ cup kosher salt
Salt
Pepper
Onion, diced
Carrot, diced
Celery, diced
Garlic
Herbs (star of anise, rosemary, thyme)
Apple juice (unfiltered)
Chicken stock
Splash of rum
Clarified butter

For the grits

¾ cups grits
3 cups liquid (2 cups milk, 1 cup apple juice)
Salt
 

For the Mango

Mango – cut in ¾ inch cubes
Small orange or red pepper – sliced into rings
Salt
Pepper
Vermouth or dry white wine to deglaze pan
 

For the Rum Sauce

¼ cup dark rum
¼ cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon salt
Lime

 

For the Belly

Preheat oven to 250 F.

 Rinse and dry the belly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then season with salt and pepper. 

In a large enough casserole to hold the belly, pre-heat the pan and melt some clarified butter. Brown the belly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove belly from the pan and set aside. Add onion, carrot, and celery to pot. Season with salt and pepper and cook until tender, about 8 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the garlic and herbs. Cook under aromatic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shake pan to get nice, even layer of mixture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lay pork belly on top of mixture and add liquids (apple juice, chicken stock, splash of rum) to cover belly completely. Place a weight on the belly to keep submerged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bring to boil. Turn off heat. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and then place lid on pot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place in 250 F to poach for 7 hours.

Remove pot from oven and uncover. Let cool in pot for at least 15 minutes.

Take belly out of pot, carefully, and place on rack on pan.

 Broil belly to crisp up top, about 5 minutes.

Place and cutting board and slice into squares for serving.

 

For the Grits

Mix grits, liquid and some salt together. Cook in double boiler for 4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Add liquid as necessary to make nice, creamy grits. Could add some cayenne if you like.
 

For the Mango

Heat pan and melt butter. Toss in mango and season with salt. Cook to caramelize, about 4 – 5 minutes. Deglaze pan if needed.

 

For Rum Sauce

Place all ingredients, except lime, in sauce pan. Bring to boil while stirring. Reduce heat to simmer and simmer for 4 minutes to reduce and thicken. Add lime juice.
 

 

Serve with grits on bottom, then belly, then mango/peppers. Drizzle sauce over.

 

I tried to figure out which wine would go best. Opened a Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley as well as a Texas Viognier from Pedernales Cellars. With the mango and lightness of it, I preferred:

 

 

Braised Pork Shanks

Pork Shanks – brined the night before

Chopped onion

Chopped carrots
Chopped celery
Chopped garlic

Salt

Black Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
Rosemary
Bay Leaves
Thyme
Cloves
Flour

Dry white wine

Chicken stock

 Sauce thickener

 

Preheat oven to 325 F.

 Dry the brined pork shanks and cut through the cracklings/fat in cross hatched pattern of about an inch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place some salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and flour in a plastic bag. Add the pork shanks. Shake to coat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heat some lard, oil, or bacon grease in a pot. Brown the shanks – takes about 10 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove the shanks. If any burnt flour in pan, wipe pan clean and add fresh oil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add onion, celery, carrots, garlic to pot along with some salt, pepper and other spices. Cook for about 8 minutes to soften.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add about a cup of wine and four or so cups of chicken broth. Bring to boil.

 

Add shanks. Bring to boil again. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover pot and place in 325 F oven. Turn shanks every 30 minutes. Total cooking time in over is about two and a half hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove shanks from pot – place on rack to pop back under broiler.

Drain liquid through fine mesh. Degrease liquid. Boil liquid down, reducing to about 1/3 or less. Add sauce thickener for gravy.

Pop shanks under broiler to crisp up cracklings.

 

Enjoy!

Pork Shanks

For brining shanks:

2 cups apple cider
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup kosher salt
3 Tablespoon mustard seed
1 ½ Tablespoons whole allspice
3 teaspoons coriander seeds
3 whole cloves
1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
1 ½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
2 bay leaves
3 inches of cinnamon stick
4 dried chiles, such as chiles de arbol, lightly crushed

 

4 pork shanks, scored in a crosshatch pattern
3 pounds pure lard
1 head of garlic, halved horizontally
1 handful of mixed thyme and rosemary sprigs
 

In brining bucket, combine the apple cider, brown sugar, salt, spices, chiles – sir until sugar and salt dissolve.

Add pork shanks to bucket and rub in marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight – no more than 24 hours.

Preheat oven to 250 F.

Remove shanks and rise well.

Melt lard in casserole over moderate heat until it reaches 250 F.

















Then, arrange shanks in lard so they are completely submerged. Nestle garlic and thyme/rosemary in lard.

















Place lid on casserole.

Transfer casserole to the oven and cook shanks for 3 to 3 ½ hours – until meat is very tender.

Remove from oven and let shanks cool in lard for 15 minutes.

 

Transfer shanks to rack set over baking sheet.

Can be done in advanced up to here.

Preheat oven to 450 F. Place shanks in oven to heat and crisp up cracklings – may take 20 minutes and may have to turn shanks.

Or, deep fry them. To do this, filter lard through a coffee filter and place back in clean pot. He 
 
 
at to 350F and deep fry for 7 minutes.

Braised Red Cabbage

1 red cabbage, 2 -2 ½ pounds – quartered, cored and cut crosswise in thin strips

2 Tablespoons clarified butter
1 small onion – thinly sliced
2 tart apples (Granny Smith/Braeburn) – peeled, cored, sliced
1/3 cup or so of balsamic vinegar
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
Salt
Pepper to taste
 

Prepare cabbage and cover with cold water.

Prepare onion and apples.

Heat clarified butter over medium heat in a large, lidded skillet or casserole and add onion and some salt.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until just about tender – about three minutes.

Add 2 Tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and cook stirring, until mixture is golden, about another three minutes, then add apples and stir for another three minutes.

Drain cabbage and add to pot. Toss to coat thoroughly then stir in allspice, another 2 Tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and salt. Toss together.

Cover pot and cook over low heat for an hour, stirring from time to time.

Add pepper, taste and adjust salt and add another Tablespoon or more of balsamic vinegar as desired.

 

May be made a day in advanced and then reheated slowly.

Apple Sauce

3 Golden Delicious apples – peeled, cored and quartered

3 Fuji apples – peeled, cored and quartered
1 cup unfiltered apple juice
2 Tablespoons cognac or brandy
2 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons honey
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a sealable, microwave-safe container. Close lid, leaving one corner of lid open to allow steam to escape.

Microwave on high for 10 – 12 minutes.

Use a hand blender or potato maser to blend to desired consistency.

Serve hot immediately or chill for later use.

Clarified Butter

 

1 pound unsalted butter

2 Tablespoons corn starch

 

 

Melt butter in high sided pot.

Bring to simmer, add corn starch and stir.

Keep stirring until corn starch attracts water and milk solids.

Pour through coffee filter.

 

Wine and Food Pairing

Wine and Food Pairing Guide (from Vindulge)

  

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Red Bordeaux & Meritage (blends)

Blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry, blueberry, plum, cherry, black currant, cassis, tea, cocoa, tobacco, green olive, vanilla, oak, smoky, mint, eucalyptus, chocolate

Lamb and beef dishes like stews.

Steak with rich sauces.
Duck, pheasants and other games.
Beef and chicken fajitas.
Chocolate desserts.
Smoked gouda cheese, cheddar cheese, and Camembert cheese.

 

Zinfandel

Blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry, jam, plum, raisin, prune, rhubarb, pomegranate, vanilla. Spice (cinnamon, clove, black pepper)

Stews, pot roast.

Dishes with tomato and tomato sauces.
Pizza with red sauce.
Grilled or smoked meats.
Spicy meat dishes and curries.
Thanksgiving dinner.
 

Pinot Noir

Cherry (red, black, dried), blueberries, blackberries, raspberry, strawberry, rhubarb, pomegranate, mushrooms, earth (barnyard), smoke, vanilla, oak, cola, coffee, rose, tea

Great for dishes with earthy flavors.

Games like pheasants, wild boar, rabbit, quail, pigeon, and venison.
Casseroles of beef and chicken.
Salmon, lamb, pork, and mushroom dishes.

 

Syrah

Blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry, jam, plum, prune, cherry, currant. Smoke, black pepper, white pepper, leather, vanilla, chocolate. Spices (clove, cinnamon).

Roasted meat, game

Spicy or heavily seasoned meats or hearty dishes.
Rich beef casseroles and games.
Barbecued meats (beef, ribs, lamb, pork).
Rich Vegetarian dishes.
Dark Chocolate.

 

Sparkling/Champagne/Prosecco

Toast, yeast, nuts, Green apple, cherry, strawberry

Salty foods like potato chips

hors d’oeuvres, caviar
smoked salmon, shrimp, & Chinese food.
Oysters
Egg dishes.
Intensely flavored and rich food like the foie gras.

 

Chardonnay
(can be oaked or unoaked)
Green apple, pear, peach, melon. Citrus (lemon, lime, orange). Tropical fruits (pineapple, passion fruit, guava). Toast, baked bread, butter, vanilla, hazelnut, oak

Fatty fish dishes or dishes in rich sauces.
Gently flavored pasta dishes and risotto.
Chicken and shellfish recipes with cream based sauces.
Pork.
Eastern and Indian dishes with creamy coconut sauces.
 

Sauvignon Blanc

Citrus: grapefruit, lemon, lime Melon, pear, fig, pineapple, passion fruit, quince, grassy, lemongrass, gooseberry

Goes well with tart sauces & dressings.

Goat cheese, asparagus, shellfish, chicken
Fish dishes with a squeeze of lemon
Japanese dishes like shashimi.
White fish and seafood
Salad, chicken salad and garden salad.
Vegetable and vegetable soups.
 

Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio)

Peach, pear, lime, lemon, apple, apricot, nuts (nuttiness), minerals, lemongrass

Especially well with light fish dishes and foods high in acid.

Chicken salad. Mildly spicy chicken.
Oysters, smoked salmon.
Fresh vegetables.
Pasta with garlic pesto.
 

Riesling

Apples, pear, peach, apricot, lychee. Floral (jasmine, rose, orchid). Honey, petroleum, minerals, stones, chalk

Pair with sweet and spicy dishes.

Pecan pie, sweet fruit pies and tarts and fruit custards.
Chinese and Thai foods.
Japanese dishes like sushi, sashimi, wasabi, tempura and teriyaki.
Pork and duck with fruit sauces.
Smoked fish pates.