Apricot Pistachio Rolled Pork Food

PORK, APRICOT & PISTACHIO PIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line 6 holes of a muffin tin with strips of baking parchment (these will help you to lift out the pies once cooked). Set aside a quarter of the pastry and roll out the remaining pastry on a floured surface to the thickness of a 20p coin. Cut out 6 x 8cm circles and use to line the muffin tin holes, leaving a little overhanging the top edge.
• Put the pork in a bowl, add the remaining ingredients, except the egg, and season. Mix by hand until combined, then pack the meat firmly into the cases.
• Roll out the remaining pastry to the same thickness. Cut into 0.5cm strips and create a lattice pattern on top of the pies. Trim off any excess. Brush the inside edge of each pie with egg, then roll up the overhanging pastry (from step 1) to stick the layers together. Can be covered with cling film and chilled for up to 2 days.
• Brush pies with egg and bake for 45 mins until golden. Cool and eat with pickle.

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.

APRICOT PISTACHIO ROLLED PORK

Steps:

• To cut pork roast into a large rectangle that can be filled and rolled, cut lengthwise about 1/2 inch from top of pork to within 1/2 inch of opposite edge; open flat. Repeat with other side of pork, cutting from the inside edge to the outer edge; open flat to form rectangle.
• Sprinkle apricots, nuts, garlic, salt and pepper over pork to within 1 inch of edge. Tightly roll up pork, beginning with short side. Secure with toothpicks, or tie with string. Pierce pork all over with metal skewer. Brush apricot nectar over entire surface. Let stand 15 minutes. Brush again with remaining apricot nectar. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
• Heat oven to 325 . Place pork, fat side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of pork. Roast uncovered 1 1/2 hours.
• To make Crunchy Topping: Melt margarine in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir in crushed cracker crumbs, pistachio nuts and garlic salt. Cook and stir 1 minute; cool.
• Brush preserves over pork. Sprinkle with topping. Roast uncovered 30 to 60 minutes longer or until thermometer reads 160 . Cover and let stand 15 minutes before serving, for easier carving.

JEWELLED PORK & PISTACHIO PIE

Steps:

• Tip the bacon, pork and sausagemeat into a large bowl, then grate in the nutmeg and add the sage, cranberries, apricots, pistachios, ¼ tsp salt and a good grinding of black pepper. Mix to combine, then cover and keep chilled while you make the pastry.
• Tip the lard and butter into a small pan with 150ml water and bring to a simmer. Weigh the flour out in a heatproof bowl with ½ tsp salt. When the butter and lard have melted and the mixture is steaming, pour it over the flour and quickly mix to form a scraggy dough. Tip out onto a surface and knead briefly until smooth. Cut off a third, then wrap and set aside.
• Roll the remaining pastry out to the thickness of a £1 coin, then lift using a rolling pin and unroll into a deep 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin. Press the pastry into the edge and up the side - don't worry if it doesn't reach the top, just press into an even layer and ensure there are no holes.
• Spoon the filling into the pastry case and pack in with the back of the spoon to expel any air pockets. Mound it up in the centre to create a dome, leaving about 1cm of the pastry edge protruding.
• Roll out the reserved pastry to the same thickness as before, then use a plate as a template to cut out a 20cm circle. You can either top the pie with the pastry lid as it is, or create a lattice effect. To do this, you will need to use a lattice cutter or ruler and knife. Hold the ruler over the pastry circle and, starting from the left or right side, cut 1cm vertical lines in the pastry going from top to bottom, leaving 1cm gaps between the incisions. After completing one line of cuts, move the ruler ½cm to the side and make another line of cuts. Continue all the way along the pastry. Gently tease the holes open with your fingers to create a webbed lattice effect, then use the same 20cm template to retrim the lid. Carefully lift it over the pie, folding over the excess pastry and crimping all the way around the edge to seal. Brush the pastry with some of the beaten egg. Re-roll any offcuts and use to decorate the pie, if you like (we cut out star shapes). Stick these on and brush with more beaten egg. Will keep covered, uncooked, in the fridge for up to 24 hrs.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake for 2 hrs until the pastry is deep golden brown. If you have a food thermometer, the internal temperature should reach 70C. Leave to cool completely in the tin, then chill for at least 4 hrs before serving. Will keep covered in the fridge for up to five days.