Pork Roast With Winter Fruits And Port Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• For the sauce: In a heavy medium saucepan, combine the first 6 ingredients. Boil over medium-high heat until reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Discard the herb sprigs and cinnamon sticks (some of the rosemary leaves will remain in the port mixture). Transfer the port mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Blend in the butter. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper. (The sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before using.)
• For the pork: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Stir the oil, rosemary, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper in a small bowl to blend. Place the pork loin in a heavy roasting pan. Spread the oil mixture over the pork to coat completely. Roast until an instant read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the pork registers 145 degrees F, turning the pork every 15 minutes to ensure even browning, about 45 minutes total.
• Transfer the pork to a cutting board and tent with foil to keep warm. Let the pork rest 15 minutes. Meanwhile, stir the chicken broth into the roasting pan. Place the pan over medium heat, and scrape the bottom of the pan to remove any browned bits. Bring the pan juices to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Using a large sharp knife, cut the pork crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange the pork slices on plates. Spoon the jus over. Drizzle the warm fig sauce around and serve immediately.

Steps:

• MAKE STUFFING
• Simmer the apricots, prunes, and wine in a small heavy saucepan, covered, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand 10 minutes.
• Cook the onion and shallot in the butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the apple and salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until apple is just tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the apricot mixture and cool.
• STUFF AND ROAST PORK
• Preheat the oven to 500°F, with the rack in the middle.
• Make a pocket in the center of the roast by cutting a horizontal 1 1/2-inch-wide slit into one end with a long thin knife and repeating from the opposite end so a pocket runs all the way through. Make a vertical cut through the center (forming a cross) to widen the pocket. Push about 1 cup stuffing into the pocket using a long-handled wooden spoon (you may need to stuff from both sides if roast is long). Reserve the remaining stuffing for the sauce.
• Season the roast with salt and pepper and put in a large flameproof roasting pan. Wrap with the bacon between rib bones, tucking the ends under the roast. Roast the pork 20 minutes, then reduce the oven to 325°F and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into the center (do not touch bone or stuffing) registers 155°F, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours total.
• Transfer the roast to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 15 to 20 minutes. (Temperature of the meat will rise to about 160°F; meat will be slightly pink.)
• MAKE SAUCE
• Skim the fat from the pan drippings and reserve 1 1/2 tablespoons fat. Straddle the pan across 2 burners and add port to drippings, then deglaze by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up browned bits, 1 minute. Strain the pan juices through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding the solids.
• Cook the shallot in the reserved fat in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the pan juices, 1 1/4 cups water, and any reserved fruit stuffing and bring to a simmer. Whisk together the arrowroot and remaining 1/4 cup water until smooth, then whisk into the sauce along with any juices from the cutting board. Simmer the sauce, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Carve the roast into chops by cutting between ribs, then serve with the sauce.
• DO AHEAD
• The STUFFING can be made 2 days ahead and chilled. The UNCOOKED ROAST improves in flavor if stuffed, seasoned, and wrapped with bacon 1 day ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before roasting.

Steps:

• Place onion in 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Place pork on onion, then top pork with fruit.
• Mix remaining ingredients and pour over fruit.
• Cover and cook on low heat setting 7 to 9 hours or until pork is tender. Serve fruit mixture over pork.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray.
• Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. In 12-inch skillet, heat 6 teaspoons of the oil over medium-high heat. Cook pork in oil 6 minutes, turning once, until golden brown. Place pork in pan, reserving drippings in skillet. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of pork.
• Roast uncovered 18 to 20 minutes or until thermometer reads 145°F. Cover loosely with foil; let stand at least 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add remaining 1 teaspoon oil to drippings in skillet. Add apricots, plums, peaches, cherries and pine nuts. Cook over medium-high heat 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until nuts are toasted. Add wine, juice and cinnamon sticks. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Simmer 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Stir in broth; simmer 15 minutes longer or until fruit is tender. Slice pork; serve with sauce.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients; set aside. Cut roast in half; sprinkle with salt, pepper and ginger. , Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Pour fruit mixture over roast. Place apple and parsley around roast. Cover and cook on low until meat is tender, 5-6 hours. , Transfer meat to a serving platter. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Steps:

• Place onion in 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Place pork on onion; top with fruit. Mix remaining ingredients; pour over fruit.
• Cover and cook on low heat setting 7 to 9 hours or until pork is tender. Serve fruit mixture over pork. Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer's directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.