Epicurean Pork Platter Recipes

Steps:

• Place pork shoulder on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and freeze, uncovered, until almost completely frozen, about 2 hours. Using a very sharp knife, thinly slice pork (shoot for about ⅛" thick). Transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, bring guajillo and morita chiles and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cover, remove from heat, and let sit 30 minutes to allow chiles to soften.
• Transfer chiles and soaking liquid to a blender. Add garlic, orange juice, lime juice, achiote paste, and salt; purée until smooth. Pour over pork and toss to coat. Cover and let sit at room temperature 2 hours, or chill up to 6 hours.
• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°F. Evenly space out tortillas on a baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted and very crisp (edges will curl and pucker), 35-45 minutes.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over high until smoking. Spread about one-fourth of pork across skillet in a single layer; cook, undisturbed, until browned underneath, about 2 minutes. Turn over and cook, undisturbed, until browned underneath and cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and wipe out skillet. Working in 3 batches, repeat process with remaining pork and 3 Tbsp. oil.
• Increase oven temperature to 500°F. Divide pork among tostadas and top with quesillo; bake until cheese is melted, 8-10 minutes. Top with onion and cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line 13 x 9 x 2-inch roasting pan with foil. Mix first 4 ingredients in bowl. Rub garlic mixture all over pork. Place pork, fat side down, in prepared roasting pan. Roast pork 30 minutes. Turn roast fat side up. Roast until thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 155°F., about 25 minutes longer. Remove from oven; let stand 10 minutes.
• Pour any juices from roasting pan into small saucepan; set over low heat to keep warm. Cut pork crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Arrange pork slices on platter. Pour pan juices over. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, if desired.

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in top third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Stir curry, pepper, brown sugar, and 2 tsp. salt in a small bowl.
• Rub an 18x13" rimmed baking sheet with oil. Sprinkle pork chops and potatoes with spice mixture on prepared pan to evenly coat, then arrange in an even layer with potatoes cut side down.
• Roast until pork is golden brown and cooked through and potatoes are deeply browned on cut sides and fork-tender, about 20 minutes. (The pork might finish cooking before the potatoes do; if so, transfer pork to a cutting board and let rest, then continue roasting the potatoes until done.)
• Meanwhile, whisk yogurt, lemon juice, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt in a medium bowl.
• Arrange pork and potatoes on a platter. Top with yogurt sauce, radishes, and pomegranate arils.
• Do Ahead: Yogurt sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Cooks' Note
• Small sweet potatoes work best for cooking at the same rate as the pork chops and fitting on one sheet pan since you can tuck them between the chops. If you can't find small sweet potatoes, use larger ones, cut them into wedges, and turn them halfway through roasting.

Steps:

• Start the onion marmalade first: heat oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet and fry the onions over medium heat, stirring, until they soften.
• Then add the soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. Stir well, turn heat low so onions won't burn. Stir now and then and don't put on a lid.
• Break up the pecans into halves or large pieces, and add to the onions when very soft and done.
• While onions fry, prepare the spinach or chard by (if raw and chopped) pushing into a large pot, covering with lid, and cooking until wilted and tender. If using frozen, defrost and reheat. The quantity given above is for raw rather than frozen: you want 6 smallish helpings so use your own judgment here.
• When the spinach is almost cooked (or you heat frozen spinach) add the golden raisins. When cooked, drain, and force out excess water by pushing down on it in a sieve or colander over the sink. When as dry as possible, add salt and nutmeg and fork through. Turn into a dish and keep warm.
• For the apple component, slice the unpeeled apples into neat half moons about 1/2 inch thick, cutting out the centre pips. (If your apples are small, use a 3rd one).
• In a small saucepan over medium heat mix the butter, lemon juice and maple syrup. Add the apple slices and turn over and over until all have been in contact with the sauce. Do this only until the apple slices are lukewarm -- do not cook. Remove and keep warm.
• In oil, fry the pork chops as you normally do, but take care not to overcook them. Use high heat so they colour nicely (butter added to the pan oil helps), salt lightly, and take them off the heat while they are still slightly springy when prodded with a utensil or finger. Take off heat.
• (Optional and not part of recipe: in the meantime cook barley to serve as a carb!).
• To serve: use warmed plates! Put a helping of spinach on each plate, top with a pork chop, and put a small spoonful of onion marmalade on the chop. Arrange some apple slices alongside and, if used, a helping of cooked barley -- or simply boiled baby potatoes.
• (A large salad of mixed lettuces should also be served).

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Whisk 1/4 cup oil, garlic, butter, sage and rosemary in small bowl to blend. Place pork in large roasting pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Rub herb mixture over pork. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.) Cover pork loosely with foil and roast 2 hours.
• Divide remaining 1/4 cup oil between 2 heavy large skillets. Heat oil over medium-high heat. Divide potatoes between skillets. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until potatoes are golden but not tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer potatoes to roasting pan with pork. Toss potatoes with pan juices. Continue roasting, uncovered, until pork browns, potatoes are tender and juices are slightly reduced, about 40 minutes.
• Place pork in center of large platter. Surround with potatoes. Pour pan juices into 2-cup glass measuring cup. Spoon fat off top of juices and discard. Pour juices over pork and potatoes.

Steps:

• Option 1: "Plain" but seasoned:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Season pork all over with 1 tsp. salt. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large, heavy, ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high. Sear pork, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 7 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and roast, flipping pork halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of meat registers 145°F for medium/medium-rare, 10-12 minutes. Transfer pork to a cutting board (reserve skillet if you're going for Option 3) and let rest at least 5 minutes. Slice into medallions. Meanwhile, toss grains with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil and 3/4 tsp. salt in a large bowl. Fold in cucumbers and tomatoes, or serve them alongside.
• Option 2: A little more flavor:
• Before searing pork, add cumin, brown sugar, and 1 tsp. pepper to 1 tsp. salt. Rub all over pork, then follow cooking directions above. Fold lemon juice and remaining 1/4 tsp. pepper into grain salad. Top salad with feta before serving.
• Option 3: Take it next level:
• After searing pork, drain excess fat from skillet and heat over medium. Add harissa and cook, stirring constantly with a spatula or wooden spoon, until bubbling and slightly browned, about 30 seconds. Pour in wine or broth, increase heat to high, and cook, scraping up browned bits, until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and add butter, one piece at a time, whisking to incorporate after each addition until emulsified. Stir in lemon juice, if using (we especially like it with the chicken broth-based sauce); season with salt and pepper. Fold herbs and olives into grain salad. Divide pork and salad among plates and serve sauce alongside.