Braised Pork Shanks With Mushroom Dumplings Food

BRAISED PORK SHANK

Steps:

• For the brine: Bring the water to a simmer in a large non-reactive pot. Turn off the heat and add salt, sugar, coriander, peppercorns, rosemary, bay leaf and garlic and bring to a simmer. Whisk until the salt and sugar is dissolved, and then let it cool in the fridge or an ice bath until the brine hits a temperature of 35 degrees F.
• Add the shanks to the cooled brine and weigh down with a plate to ensure that the shanks are completely submerged. Refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours.
• After brining, remove the shanks from the brining liquid to a baking sheet lined with a clean kitchen towel to dry off a bit. Discard the brining liquid.
• For the braise: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Heat a large Dutch oven or roasting pan over medium-high heat. Pour in enough oil so that it covers the bottom of the Dutch oven or roasting pan completely. Put some flour in a shallow dish. Add a heavy pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper to the flour and whisk to combine. Dredge the shanks in the flour, shaking off the excess, and add them to the pan. In order to get a nice even golden-brown sear, you don't want to overcrowd the pan. (Do this step in two batches if necessary.) Brown the shanks on all sides, a few minutes per side, then remove to a plate while you sear the rest.
• Add the celery, onions, carrots, garlic, rosemary and thyme with a large pinch of salt. Sweat the vegetables until tender, about 5 minutes. Deglaze with the white wine and reduce by three-quarters. Add the apple cider and reduce by half. Add half the chicken stock and bring the braising liquid up to a simmer. Taste it for seasoning, adding additional salt and pepper if necessary. Place the shanks back into the pan; the liquid should go about halfway up the shanks. If it does not, add the rest of the liquid until it reaches the desired half. Put the pan in the oven and cook until the meat is tender, about 200 degrees F when checked with a meat thermometer, 4 to 5 hours.
• Remove the shanks from the oven and carefully transfer the shanks to another large pan. Then strain the braising liquid over the shanks. Cool them in the liquid overnight in the refrigerator.
• The next day, reheat the shanks in their liquid. Then remove them to a large serving platter. Spoon some of the braising liquid over the meat.

MUSHROOM DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the filling: Place dried mushrooms in a small bowl and add 1/4 cup boiling water. Let soften, about 10 minutes. Strain, reserving liquid and mushrooms separately.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until golden but not brown, about 5 minutes. Add fresh mushrooms and cook, stirring, until they have released their liquid, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drain liquid. Combine both kinds of mushrooms in a food processor. Spoon in porcini liquid, leaving behind any silt in bottom of bowl. Pulse together until finely ground but not pasty, about 3 or 4 pulses. Add salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
• For the dough: Combine egg yolk, oil and 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water in a small bowl and whisk 1 minute. Place flour in a large bowl and make a well in center. Add a third of the egg mixture to the well and lightly mix in with fingers or a fork. Repeat 2 more times. Using hands, fold dough together until soft; if crumbly, gently work in more water, and if sticky, add flour. Transfer to a lightly floured board and knead 3 minutes. Form into a ball, transfer to a bowl and refrigerate 45 minutes.
• Lightly flour a work surface and a pan or board for the finished dumplings. Divide dough into 3 sections. Using a well-floured rolling pin, roll each section out to a very thin rough rectangle. Use tip of a sharp knife to cut dough into 1 1/2-inch squares.
• Drain any excess liquid from filling. Place 1/2 teaspoon filling in center of each square. Fold squares in half to form triangles, sealing filling inside. (If dough is becoming dry, lightly moisten fingertips to seal.) Place on floured surface; do not stack. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Cook dumplings in a large pot of salted boiling water until they float, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain and serve in hot borscht, or just with sour cream.

CRISPY BRAISED PORK SHANKS

Steps:

• Coat a large pot or Dutch oven with peanut oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, celery and onions. Cook until the vegetables are browned, about 5 minutes. Add the shanks to the pot along with the salt, peppercorns, bay and thyme. Pour in the chicken broth and wine, then add enough water to just barely cover the shanks. Bring to a boil then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Remove the shanks from the pot and set on a wire rack over a sheet tray. Allow the shanks to drain and cool, 25 to 30 minutes. If you have time, you can also place the shanks in the refrigerator, uncovered, for 2 to 3 hours (this will really help dry the outsides of the shanks so that when you fry them they will get super crispy and also won't splatter as much).
• Pat the cooled and drained shanks dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat 3 inches of peanut oil in a deep, heavy pot, such as a Dutch oven or tall stock pot, to 350 degrees F. Working in batches, carefully add the shanks to the pot, skin-side down. Cover and leave slightly ajar until the oil settles. Cook, turning once, until the shanks are golden brown and crispy, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and season with salt. Repeat with the remaining shanks. Serve crispy fried pork shanks with the Fried Caper and Lemon Gremolata and chimichurri sauce if using.
• Place the golden raisins in a bowl of hot water with 1 tablespoon of the honey and gently squeeze them with the back of a spoon to plump them back up. Rehydrate for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat 1/2-inch oil to 350 degrees F in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Fry the capers for 30 to 45 seconds. Drain and set aside.
• Combine the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, shallots, garlic, remaining 1 tablespoon honey, fried capers and raisins in a mixing bowl and stir. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the olive oil and set aside to allow the flavors to come together, 10 to 15 minutes.

FRIED PORK DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Lightly beat 1 egg in a large bowl. Add the pork, bacon, cabbage, chives, ginger, sesame oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the sugar, garlic, soy sauce and cornstarch; mix with your hands until combined.
• Lightly beat the remaining egg in a small bowl with 1 tablespoon water. Set 1 dumpling wrapper on a clean surface (keep the rest covered with a damp paper towel so they don't dry out). Scoop 1 heaping teaspoonful of the pork mixture onto the center of the wrapper. Dab a finger into the egg mixture and brush along the edges of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper in half and press the edges together to seal, then transfer to a baking sheet. Cover with a damp paper towel while you form the remaining dumplings.
• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in 3 batches, add the dumplings and arrange in a single layer; cook until the bottoms start to brown, about 30 seconds. Add 2/3 cup water, cover and cook 3 minutes. Uncover and cook until the liquid evaporates and the bottoms are crisp and golden brown, about 2 more minutes. Loosen the dumplings from the pan with a spatula and transfer to a serving plate. Add 2 more tablespoons oil to the pan between batches.
• Ponzu Dipping Sauce
• Combine 3 tablespoons ponzu sauce, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil and 1 chopped scallion in a small bowl.