Braised Pork Shoulder With Apple Cider And Ginger Beer Food

CIDER BRAISED PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• Pat pork dry with paper towels; season liberally with salt and pepper on all sides.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown the pork on all sides, taking care not to get the oil too hot. Remove the meat to a platter.
• Add onions and garlic to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender (about 10-15 minutes). Stir in 1 ½ teaspoons salt, bay leaf, thyme, rosemary, apple cider and chicken broth. Nestle the pork shoulder in the pot (fat-side up). Cover the pot.
• Roast the pork shoulder in a 325°F oven for about 3-3 ½ hours, basting with cooking liquid every hour or so (if possible). The pork is done when the meat is falling off the bone (an internal temperature of about 205°F). Remove bay leaf and herb stems.
• Transfer the pork to a large cutting board. When it's cool enough to handle, shred the meat with two forks (discarding fatty pieces), and spoon plenty of that delicious cider cooking liquid and onions over top.

BRAISED PORK SHOULDER WITH APPLE CIDER AND GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Season pork shoulder with 2 tbsp salt and pepper. Using kitchen twine, tie pork at 1/2" intervals, forming a compact cylinder. Let stand at room temperature for 2 hours, or cover and chill overnight. If chilled, let pork stand at room temperature for 2 hours before continuing. Preheat over to 300°. Place pork in a large heavy ovenproof pot with a tight-fitting lid; arrange shallots, garlic, and apples around pork. Add broth, cider, and ginger beer. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover, and transfer to oven. Braise pork until a knife slides easily through meat, 4-5 hours. Let meat cool in braising liquid, then refrigerate until cold (the meat will slice more easily when cold). (Can be braised 3 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.) Preheat oven to 350°. Using tongs, transfer pork to a cutting board. Strain braising liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard fat and solids. Slice pork between kitchen twine and place in a large roasting pan. Carefully remove twine, leaving slices intact. Pour enough braising liquid into pan to cover pork halfway (1 1/2 - 2 cups) and arrange rosemary over. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until pork is just heated through, 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, pour remaining braising liquid from bowl into a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil sauce until reduced to 2 cups, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer sliced pork to a platter (discard any liquid in pan) an drizzle some of the sauce over. Service remaining sauce alongside.

BRAISED PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Crisp pancetta in a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat, until fat is rendered, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon.
• Add onions to Dutch oven. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 25 minutes. Transfer to plate using slotted spoon.
• Season pork with salt and pepper. Add oil to Dutch oven, and sear pork, fat side down, until golden, about 5 minutes. Flip, and repeat.
• Add garlic and spices to pot. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ale, stock, pancetta, and onions; bring to a simmer. Transfer to oven, and braise pork, covered, basting every hour, until meat is falling off the bone, about 4 hours. Shred meat (just what you're using) using 2 forks, and drizzle with warm skimmed jus.