Pork Cheeks Recipes

Steps:

• Season both sides of pork cheeks with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with flour and press it into the meat to coat thoroughly.
• Heat clarified butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Sear meat on both sides until richly browned, adjusting heat lower if necessary. When cheeks are browned, reduce heat to medium. Transfer cheeks to a plate to rest.
• Remove all but 2 tablespoons fat from the skillet. Add onions, carrots, and celery to skillet. Cook and stir until softened and sweet, seasoning with a pinch of salt. Add vinegar and stir to deglaze the pan. Pour in the cider and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer. Add sage and rosemary. Reduce heat to low and transfer cheeks back to pan. Cover. Cook until fork tender but not falling apart, 2 to 3 hours depending on the size of the pork cheeks. Transfer to a plate.
• Bring liquid to a boil over high heat, skimming off fat as it rises to the surface. Reduce volume of liquid by about 60 to 70%. Sauce will start to thicken up. Taste for salt and season as needed. Transfer cheeks back to liquid. Continue to cook over medium-low heat until cheeks are heated through and tender and sauce is thick enough to coat cheeks.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a 4-quart Dutch oven. Add the mirepoix. Cover and cook until the vegetables are soft but not browned, about 10 minutes, stirring once or twice. Place the cheeks on top of the vegetables and add enough water to cover. Cover and bring to a boil.
• Place the pan in the oven. Braise cheeks for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until tender.
• With a slotted spoon, remove the cheeks to a bowl. (Reserve cooking liquid.) Remove any fat and shred the meat using 2 forks. Sprinkle with salt.
• When the meat is cool enough to handle, use a little cooking liquid to form into 2- to 3-inch ''sausages.''
• Wrap each sausage in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• To serve, unwrap the sausages and slice each into four pieces. Brush the flat ends of each slice with a thin coat of mustard and then lightly coat with cornmeal.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a skillet. In batches, saute each slice until crisp and lightly browned.