Braised Pork With Pearl Onions And Grapes Food

PORK MEDALLIONS WITH GRAPES AND PEARL ONIONS

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of salted water to boil, add the onions, and cook until almost tender but not falling apart (about 8-10 minutes). Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup of the onion-cooking broth.
• Cut each pork tenderloin into 6 chunks. With a meat mallet, pound each to a thickness of about 1/2 inch.
• In a large skillet, over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp of the butter in the olive oil. Spread flour on a plate for dredging. Season the pork with 1/2 tsp of salt, and lightly dredge it in the flour. Brown the pork on both sides, about 2 minutes per side, and remove to a plate.
• Add the onions to the skillet, and let them cook a few minutes until lightly carmelized. Add the white wine, and bring to a boil. Once the wine is almost reduced, add the sage, the reserved onion-cooking broth, and the remaining 1/2 tsp of salt. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes, until it is reduced by almost half. Whisk in the vinegar and the remaining 2 tbsp of butter. Add the pork back to the skillet with the grapes, and simmer until the sauce is thickened and grapes just begin to soften (about 3-4 minutes).

BRAISED PORK WITH PEARL ONIONS AND GRAPES

Steps:

• Season the pork with salt and pepper. In a small enameled cast-iron casserole, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the pork and brown well over moderately high heat, 10 minutes; transfer to a plate. Pour off the fat from the casserole. Add the wine and boil over high heat, scraping up the browned bits, until reduced by half, 3 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Add the garlic, bay leaf, thyme sprig, yellow onion and the pork. Cover and simmer over very low heat, turning once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 160 degrees F, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan of water, boil the pearl onions until almost tender, 5 minutes; drain and peel. In a bowl, blend the 2 tablespoons of softened butter with the flour to form a paste.
• Transfer the pork to a plate. Strain the cooking liquid and return to the casserole; boil until reduced to 2 cups, 4 minutes. Whisk 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid into the flour paste until smooth, then whisk the mixture into the cooking liquid. Simmer over moderately high heat, whisking, until thickened. Simmer over low heat, stirring, until no floury taste remains, 5 minutes. Stir in the chopped thyme and season with salt and pepper. Return the pork and its juices to the casserole and add the pearl onions. Cover and bring just to a simmer, turning the pork a few times in the sauce to heat it up.
• In a skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the grapes and cook over moderately high heat, shaking the skillet, until the skins start to burst. Thickly slice the pork and transfer to plates. Spoon the sauce, pearl onions and grapes on top; serve.

BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH PARSNIPS & PEARL ONIONS

Steps:

• Arrange short ribs in a large roasting pan bone side down in a single layer.
• Sprinkle with sea salt & black pepper. Roast on a lower oven rack at 450F for 35 minutes.
• Drain all liquid/fat (turkey baster works well).
• Continue to roast another 25 minutes or until well browned.
• Transfer ribs to a plate and drain pan liquids into a small bowl and reserve.
• Reduce oven to 300°F.
• Simmer the wine in the roasting pan on the stovetop over 2 burners, scraping the bottom with a wood spoon to loosen the roasted on bits, simmer 5 minutes.
• In a large dutch oven over medium high heat, heat 3 tbsp of the reserved fat.
• Add onions, carrots, and celery; saute 10-12 minutes until vegetables soften.
• Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
• Add flour and stir to combine, cook about 1 minute.
• Add the wine from the roasting pan, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, herbs, and tomato paste.
• Season to taste with sea salt & black pepper.
• Bring to a boil, add short ribs (completely submerge them), return to boil.
• Transfer to oven, bake covered for 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove from oven and cool with the lid cracked for about 2 hours.
• Transfer the ribs, minus loose bones & vegetables, to a plate or tupperware.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Strain the braising liquid into a medium bowl, pressing out the liquid from the solids.
• Discard the solids, cover and refrigerate the liquid (separate from the ribs).
• This can be refrigerated up to 3 days in advance.
• 45 minutes prior to serving: Heat a large dutch oven over medium heat; cook bacon until just crisp; transfer to papertowel lined plate.
• Add the pearl onions, parsnips, sugar and 1/4 tsp salt to the bacon grease and saute on high for 5 minutes or until browned.
• Remove the ribs and braising liquid from the refrigerator.
• Skim the solidified fat off the top of the liquid and discard.
• Add the liquid to the pearl onions and bring to a simmer.
• Season with sea salt & black pepper to taste.
• Add ribs to liquid and push below surface.
• Return to simmer over medium and cook with the lid cracked about 5 minutes until ribs are heated through and parsnips are tender.
• Stir in the bacon.
• Serve sprinkled with parsley.
• Note: If you are making this the same day as you plan to serve it, skip cooling the ribs in the braising liquid. Instead take them out straight from the oven, strain the vegetables out of the liquid and let it settle so you can spoon off the fat that rises to the top.