Dust off that Dutch oven and get ready to be amazed at how tender and juicy an ordinary pork roast becomes when we let it slowly braise in this Tuscan-inspired marinade. Simmered low and slow your roast will literally be fall-apart tender and delicious.
Tip: The longer your meat marinates the more flavorful and tender it will be. In fact, 1-3 days in the refrigerator is perfect. However, if you are crunched for time, the pork can be marinated at room temperature for up to 2 hours before cooking. Patting your pork dry with paper towel helps sear in the most flavor before braising.
Prep time: 15 minutes (+ time to marinate)
Cook time: 2½ – 3 hours
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
2 c. dry red wine, such as Chianti
1 large red onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
4 fresh rosemary sprigs
4 fresh thyme sprigs
2 bay leaves
1 T. whole fennel seeds, crushed
1 t. red pepper flakes
3 – 3½ lbs. pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into 2 or 3 large pieces
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 14.5-oz. can Italian plum tomatoes, diced and undrained
1 – 2 c. chicken broth, preferably organic
(Optional) Fresh parsley, chopped
Directions:
- Add wine, red onion, garlic, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, crushed fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes to a large glass or other non-reactive bowl and stir to combine.
- Add pork chunks to bowl and turn until each piece is covered. Cover and place bowl in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours. Turn pork occasionally while marinating to evenly distribute flavors.
- To prepare, remove bowl from refrigerator and remove pork pieces from marinade. Pat dry with paper towels and set aside.
- Separate the marinade liquid from the solids and reserve both, discarding the woody herb stems and bay leaves. Set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-duty skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the marinated pork and sear until evenly browned on all sides, approximately 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
- Add the solids from the marinade and cook until onions are soft and translucent, approximately 10-12 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add liquid from marinade to skillet and scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Continue cooking until liquid is reduced to approximately one third of its original volume.
- Add tomatoes and 1 cup chicken broth and stir to combine. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 2 to 2½ hours, stirring every half hour or so. Add more chicken broth, if needed, while cooking.
- When pork can be pulled apart easily with a fork, remove from heat and let rest in warm juices for 10-15 minutes. Serve immediately over a bed of creamy polenta and garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
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