Cider Brined Pork Roast With Potatoes And Onions Recipe 465

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups cider, 1/3 cup salt, brown sugar, torn bay leaves, cloves and peppercorns to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in 2 cups each water and cider; cool to room temperature.
• Place pork loin in a 2 gallon resealable plastic bag and pour cooled brine mixture over. Allow meat to brine, refrigerated for at least 8 hours or up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Finely chop garlic, 1 sprig rosemary and remaining bay leaf. Add remaining salt and ground pepper; mash into a paste with the flat side of a knife.
• Remove pork from brine (discard liquid), pat dry, and rub with garlic-herb mixture. Place in large roasting pan and scatter apples and onions around it. Break remaining rosemary sprig into 4 pieces, scatter atop apples and onions. Transfer pan to oven and roast meat until internal temperature reaches 160F, about 1 hour, 15 minutes. Transfer pork loin to serving platter with all but 4 pieces each apple and onion. Allow meat to rest 15 minutes before serving.
• Meanwhile, place roasting pan with drippings, reserved onions and apples on stove top over medium heat and add remaining 1 cup cider plus 1 cup water. Cook, scraping browned bits from bottom of pan until liquid is hot, about 2 minutes. Strain mixture into bowl, pressing liquid from solids; set aside. Return roasting pan to stove top and melt butter over medium-high heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk until golden brown. Whisk in reserved cider mixture and continue to whisk until gravy is smooth. Serve hot with pork roast.

Steps:

• To make the brine, about 8 hours before roasting the pork, bring the cider, salt, brown sugar, rosemary, sage, thyme, fennel seed, peppercorns, and bay leaves to a simmer in a medium nonreactive saucepan over medium heat, stirring often to dissolve the salt.
• Transfer to a large deep bowl and let cool until tepid.
• Add the ice water and stir well.
• Add the pork to the brine; cover and refrigerate, turning pork occasionally in the brine, for at least 4 hours and up to 6 hours, but no longer.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450°.
• Drain the pork and pat it dry with paper towels.
• Place the pork in a roasting pan, meaty side up.
• Roast for 45 minutes.
• Toss the sweet potatoes and apples together with the vegetable oil in a large bowl.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Spread around the pork and stir with the juices in the pan to coat.
• Continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the roast reads 140°, about 40 more minutes.
• Transfer the pork to a platter and tend it with foil.
• Let stand for 10-20 minutes while roasting the sweet potatoes and apples.
• Stir the sweet potatoes and apples and continue roasting until they are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer them to a serving bowl, sprinkle with the rosemary, and toss gently.
• Scatter around the pork on the platter and cover again with foil to keep warm while making the sauce.
• Leaving any browned bits in the pan, pour out the fat.
• Place the pan over medium heat.
• Add the butter and let melt.
• Whisk in the flour and let bubble until very lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the cider, then the stock, and bring to a simmer.
• Reduce the heat to med-low and simmer until thickened and not taste of raw flour remains, about 3 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour into a sauceboat.
• Carve the roast and serve hot with the sweet potatoes and apples, and the sauce on the side.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Stir in 1/2 cup water; let stand for 3 minutes. , Place roast, fat side up, on a greased rack in a roasting pan. Pour remaining water into the pan. Combine potatoes and onions; spoon around the roast. Brush vegetables and roast with seasoning mixture. , Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until a thermometer reads 160° and potatoes are tender. Baste and stir potatoes occasionally. Tent with foil if browning too fast. Thicken juices for gravy if desired. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.