Apricot Cumin Stuffed Pork For Two Food

BOURBON AND DRIED PLUM STUFFED PORK LOIN

Steps:

• For the filling: Combine the bourbon and dried plums in a small bowl and set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large saute pan. Add the onions and some salt and pepper to taste; cook, stirring, over medium heat until very tender but not browned, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic powder, rosemary and cumin and cook 30 seconds more.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add the dried plums and bourbon. Carefully return the pan to the heat and cook until reduced by half. Stir in the remaining tablespoon butter. Remove the pan from the heat and add the breadcrumbs. Stir well to incorporate, then set aside to cool to room temperature.
• For the pork loin: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Combine the olive oil, garlic powder, rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl and mix well to combine. Rub the mixture all over the pork loin and place on a cutting board with the fat side facing up. Starting on one side of the loin, insert a paring knife or thin fillet knife through the cut side of the loin toward the center of the meat, keeping both your knife and the meat centered. (You are trying to create a hole through the center of the loin while keeping the entire roast intact, like a tunnel.) If your knife is not long enough to reach all the way through the loin, make the same cut from the opposite end of the loin to connect the two cuts.
• Lay a sheet of plastic wrap out on the cutting board. Arrange the stuffing in the center of the plastic wrap. Shape the stuffing so that it lays in a narrow rectangle, the same length as the pork loin. Tightly wrap the stuffing in the plastic wrap, maintaining the shape. Twist the ends of the plastic wrap to tighten the shape and tie a knot at each end as close to the stuffing as possible.
• Insert a metal skewer with a looped end through the hole in the pork loin. Tie one end of the plastic wrap around the loop and use it to pull the stuffing into the center of the pork loin.
• When the stuffing is centered, cut the knot off one end of the plastic wrap. Pull the plastic wrap from the other end while squeezing to extract the stuffing. As you pinch and pull, the plastic wrap should come out, leaving the stuffing behind inside the pork loin.
• Line a baking sheet with foil and place the pork loin fat-side down on top. Roast the pork loin, 25 minutes. Flip the pork loin so that the fat side is now facing up. Cook until a thermometer inserted into the center of the pork loin registers 140 degrees F, about 20 minutes more. Transfer the pork loin to a rack to rest. (The internal temperature should reach a minimum of 145 degrees F as it rests.)
• Slice into 1/2-inch thick and drizzle with good-quality olive oil before serving.

APRICOT-GLAZED PORK TENDERLOIN FOR TWO

Steps:

• Place pork in a shallow pan. Combine the oil, salt and pepper; rub over pork., Bake at 425° for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; spoon over pork. Bake 10-17 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 145°, basting occasionally with pan juices. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

APRICOT & CUMIN STUFFED PORK FOR TWO

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/Gas 6.
• Lightly toast the cumin seeds in a frying pan.
• Tip into a blender with the apricots and whizz until chopped, but not smooth.
• Slice the pork fillet in half horizontally, not cutting through completely, and open it like a book.
• Season the mean to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper, spread the cumin-apicot mixture along the center of the fillet, then fold themeat back to envelop the stuffing.
• Heat the oil in a pan and brown the meat on all sides for about 5 minutes.
• Remove the pork (Keep the pan as is with juices and lovely bits, as you will be using it shortly) and place on a roasting try and cover loosly with aluminum foil.
• Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until lightly pink.
• Meanwhile, add the wine and rosemary to the previously used pan (containing all the love and the juices) and bring to the boil.
• Simmer for 5 minutes or until you have a sauce.
• Remove the meat from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before carving into slices.
• Pour/add any remaining juices from the roasting tray into the sauce and mix well, remove the rosemary and pour over the stuffed pork slices when ready to serve.
• Enjoy!

CRANBERRY-APRICOT STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Put the dried fruit in a small bowl. Pour 1/4 cup boiling water over the fruit and set aside for 10 minutes to soften. Drain, reserve the soaking water. In a mini-processor process the fruit with the nuts, butter, fennel and half the shallot until finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small sealable plastic bag or pastry bag. Snip about a 1/2-inch opening in the corner of the plastic bag. With a small paring knife, make a pocket starting from rounded side of each chop. Set the tip of the bag inside the pocket and press a quarter of the stuffing into the chop. Repeat with the remaining chops and filling. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pat the chops dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Brown one side of the chops, until well browned about 5 minutes. Use tongs to hold the chops and sear the edges of the chops. Turn and brown the other sides of the chops, about 2 minutes. Transfer the chops to a baking sheet and bake until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of the chops registers 135 degrees F, about 15 minutes. While the chops are in the oven make the sauce. Drain the oil from the saute pan. Off the heat, add the Calvados and the remaining shallots. Return the pan to the heat, taking care since the alcohol may flambe, and cook over high heat until the alcohol is reduced by half and is slightly syrupy. Add the broth and the fruit soaking liquid and boil down until the liquid is reduce by about a third. Add the cream and continue to simmer until it thickens slightly. Whisk in the mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add any juices that have accumulated on the baking sheet to the sauce. Divide the chops among 4 warm plates or a large platter. Pour on the sauce and serve.

PORK ROAST STUFFED WITH APRICOTS AND PRUNES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Clean pork loin removing any excess fat. butterfly the pork loin (1/2-inch thick). Lay the pork, cut-side up, season with salt and pepper, and rub liberally with the apricot chutney.
• Place a layer of apricots and prunes on the flattened loin. Roll tightly and tie with twine at 1/2-inch intervals. Place the pork in a roasting pan fitted with a rack and season with salt and pepper. Roast until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 to 150 degrees F, about 15 minutes per pound. Transfer the pork to a cutting board, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.

ROAST PORK WITH APRICOT AND SHALLOT STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Make stuffing:
• Cut just enough bread into 1/3-inch pieces to measure 1 cup and spread evenly in a shallow baking pan. Toast bread in middle of oven, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes, then transfer to a bowl. Leave oven on (for pork).
• Cook shallots in butter in a large nonstick skillet over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add apricots and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in bread, parsley, salt, and pepper.
• Stuff and roast pork:
• Make a hole for stuffing that runs lengthwise through pork loin: Beginning in middle of 1 end of roast, insert a sharp long thin knife lengthwise toward center of loin, then repeat at opposite end of loin to complete incision running through middle.
• Open up incision with your fingers, working from both ends, to create a 1 1/2-inch-wide opening, then pack with all of stuffing, pushing from both ends toward center.
• Pat pork dry and and season well with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until very hot and just smoking, then brown pork on all sides, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a roasting pan and roast in middle of oven until a meat thermometer inserted diagonally 2 inches into meat (avoid stuffing) registers 160°F, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 20 minutes.
• While loin is standing, straddle roasting pan across 2 burners. Add 1/2 cup water and deglaze pan by boiling over moderate heat, scraping up brown bits.
• Slice meat and serve with sauce.

APRICOT-STUFFED SPICE-RUBBED PORK LOIN

Steps:

• Combine first 7 ingredients in a small bowl. Combine apricots and capers; set aside. Trim fat from pork. Cut a 1-1/2-inch-wide horizontal slit into the end of pork; cut through to the other end of pork to form a deep pocket using a long, thin knife. Spoon apricot mixture into pocket; pack using the handle of a wooden spoon. Rub surface of pork with cumin mixture. Place pork on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Insert meat thermometer into thickest portion of pork. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 55 minutes or until thermometer registers 160 degrees (slightly pink).

CUMIN PORK TENDERLOIN W/ APRICOT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Combine brown sugar through salt in a shallow dish and stir well.
• Trim fat from pork, add pork to marinade and turn to coat.
• Chill at least 30 minutes, turning pork occasionally.
• Discard marinade and put pork on a broiler pan coated with nonstick spray; insert meat thermometer.
• Bake at 400° about 25 minutes until thermometer registers 160°.
• Let stand 10 minutes then cut into thin slices.
• Make chutney: Combine ½ cup water with apricots through red pepper flakes in a medium saucepan and stir well.
• Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add ½ cup water and apple.
• Cook, covered, another 15 minutes until apple is tender.
• Remove from heat, uncover and let stand at least 5 minutes.
• Serve chutney with pork.

APRICOT AND PECAN-STUFFED PORK LOIN

Steps:

• Coarsely chop apricots, pecans, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor.
• Add 2 tablespoons thyme, 1 tablespoon molasses and 2 tablespoons oil.
• Process until mixture is finely chopped, but not smooth.
• Make a lengthwise cut down the center of each roast, cutting to, but not through, the bottom.
• Starting from center slice, slice horizontally toward one side, stopping 1/2-inch from edge.
• Repeat with other loin half.
• Flatten each half to a 1/2-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
• Spread apricot mixture evenly over pork.
• Roll each loin half, jelly-roll fashion, starting with long side.
• Secure with string.
• Place both rolls, seam side down, in a shallow roasting pan.
• Brush with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with remaining thyme.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Bring bourbon, broth and remaining 3 tablespoons molasses to a boil in a large saucepan.
• Remove from heat.
• Carefully ignite bourbon mixture with a long match.
• When flames die, pour over roasts.
• Bake at 350 degrees 1 to 1-1/2 hours, or until meat thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 160 degrees.
• Remove pork from pan, reserve drippings, and keep warm.
• Pour reserved drippings in a small saucepan.
• Add cream and salt.
• Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.
• Slice pork and serve with sauce.

"STUFFED" PORK CHOPS WITH SAUSAGE AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Season the chops with salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of the EVOO to the hot skillet, then add the chops to sear and caramelize the meat on each side, a minute or two. Transfer the chops to a pan or casserole dish and add about 1/2 cup of the chicken stock to help the meat remain moist while it finishes cooking-just eyeball the amount. Loosely cover the dish or pan with foil before placing in the oven.
• Start the Sautéed Yellow Squash, page 146, then move back to the stuffing in this recipe.
• Return the skillet to the stove and add the remaining tablespoon of EVOO. Add the sausage and crumble it as it browns. Add the celery and onion and cook for 2 or 3 minutes, then add the bell pepper and apricots. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the parsley and sage and another 1/2 cup chicken broth. Reduce the heat and cook the stuffing for 5 or 6 minutes longer, until the apricots are tender and plump. Remove the stuffing to a small bowl, scraping the pan free of as much food as possible, then return the same skillet to moderate heat. Add the butter to the skillet. When the butter melts, add the flour and whisk. Cook the flour with the butter for 1 minute, then add the remaining cup of broth. Bring both to a bubble, then stir in the heavy cream-eyeball it. Bring the gravy to a bubble. Add a pinch of nutmeg and black pepper and simmer for 5 minutes to thicken a bit.
• To serve, remove the chops from oven. Place 4 chops on individual plates or on a platter. Mound the sausage and vegetables on the chops, then top each with a second chop and pour gravy down over the top of stacked chops and stuffing. The pan drippings may also be added to the gravy to stretch the amount.

ROLLED PORK BELLY WITH HERBY APRICOT & HONEY STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a small frying pan. Add the onion and cook for 10 mins until golden. Trim off about 100g of the pork, from the meaty side - but if the butcher has left a chunk of meat on one side where the ribs have been removed, leave this on as it will help you roll it. Whizz the pork trimmings in a food processor, then tip into a bowl with the herbs, breadcrumbs, apricots, onion and 2 tbsp oil, season and mix well.
• Turn the pork belly skin-side up. Using a sharp knife or Stanley knife, score the skin at 1cm intervals and rub the sea salt all over. Turn the pork belly over and season a little more, then brush the honey over the flesh. Lay the stuffing down the centre, then bring the 2 ends together and roll tightly. Flip the pork over so the ends meet underneath. Tie the rolled pork with kitchen string to secure. Put the meat on a wire rack in a roasting tin and transfer to the fridge, uncovered for a few hrs or up to 24 hrs, so the skin has time to dry out and the meat takes on the flavours from the stuffing.
• Heat oven to 220C/180C fan/gas 6. Rub the pork with the remaining oil and a little more sea salt. Roast in the centre of the oven for 30 mins. Turn the oven down to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and continue cooking for 2 hrs. Finally, turn the oven back up to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 to crisp up the skin for another 30 mins - don't worry if your pork looks dark on the outside, it will still be juicy and delicious in the middle. Remove from the oven, cover with foil and leave to rest for 45 mins before carving. If your skin does not turn crispy, pop the joint under a hot grill for a few mins, rolling it onto its side to get the sides nice and crispy too - just keep an eye on it as it will burn easily.

SLOW-ROASTED PORK SHOULDER WITH LEEKS, APRICOTS & THYME

Steps:

• A few hours before you want to cook the pork, remove it from the fridge and dry the skin thoroughly. Leave unwrapped in a cool place to slowly come to room temperature while you make the stuffing.
• Put a large saucepan over a medium heat and add the butter. When it begins to sizzle, add the leeks and cook until they are soft and most of their liquid has evaporated. Stir in the apricots and thyme, season well and transfer to a bowl to cool. When the mixture is cold, stir in the breadcrumbs. Taste and season again if required.
• When you are ready to cook the pork, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Spoon the stuffing into the pocket your butcher has left for you. Wipe any stuffing from the skin, put the pork in a roasting tin and season the skin well with salt. Put the celery, onion and carrot in the tin around the pork, place in the oven and cook for 30 mins.
• Reduce heat to 140C/120C fan/ gas 1 and cook the pork for a further 2 hrs 30 mins. Transfer the pork to a warm serving dish to rest while you finish the gravy.
• Tip out any fat from the roasting tin and reserve for another dish. Put the roasting tin on a medium heat, add the white wine or cider and, using a wooden spatula, scrape the caramelised juices from the bottom of the pan and allow them to dissolve. Let the juices reduce by half.
• Add the stock and simmer for 5 mins. Add the flour and butter, mashed together, and whisk them into the gravy. Taste for seasoning, then strain into a warmed jug. If your pork skin has not crackled, put under a hot grill for a few mins, turning every 30 secs or so, until bubbled and crackling.

PORK WITH SPICED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Heat the grill to medium and put the pork steaks on to a large baking tray lined with foil to catch the juices. Brush with a little oil and season to taste. Arrange the apricots around the pork, cut side up. Dot the apricots with the butter, then sprinkle with the chilli and sugar.
• Grill for 15 mins, turning the pork over half way through, until cooked and golden and the apricots are soft and sticky, but still holding their shape. Serve the apricots alongside the pork, drizzled with any sticky juices - great with vegetables and mash.

APRICOT-STUFFED PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Cut a lengthwise slit down the center of the roast to within 1/2 in. of bottom. Open roast so it lies flat; cover with plastic wrap. Flatten to 1/2-in. thickness. Remove wrap; sprinkle with cheese, apricots, thyme, garlic, salt, pepper and cayenne., Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long end. Tie at 1-1/2- to 2-inch intervals with kitchen string; secure ends with toothpicks. Transfer to an 11x7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Brush tenderloin with butter. Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.