Fig Pine Nuts And Feta Stuffed Pork Loin Food

PORK LOIN STUFFED WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the raisins, prunes and apricots in a small bowl; pour in the brandy. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave until hot, about 2 minutes. Set aside until the dried fruit is plump, at least 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and apple and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic, parsley, sage, 1 teaspoon rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook until the garlic is softened, about 1 minute. Add the dried fruit?brandy mixture and cook until the skillet is dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth and simmer until the mixture is very soft and the skillet is almost dry, about 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Push the handle of a wooden spoon into the center of one end of the pork roast; work the handle through the length of the roast to create a tunnel, widening the tunnel with your fingers or a small paring knife until about 1 1/2 inches wide.
• Stuff the dried fruit mixture into the tunnel, firmly pressing to make sure it?s packed into the pork roast. Rub the outside of the pork roast with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. If the pork has a skinny flap that runs along one side, tuck it under and tie kitchen twine around the pork in a few spots.
• Set a rack in a large roasting pan. Place the pork on the rack and roast until golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the center registers 140 degrees F, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Let the pork rest at least 20 minutes before slicing.

FIG, PINE NUTS AND FETA STUFFED PORK LOIN

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium high heat.
• Slice a very thin piece if each steak to cover the hole to hold in the filling, set aside.
• Slice a small entry along the side (opposite side of the fat) of each steak for the filling. Then slice the inside a little larger so to hold more of the filling.
• Rub each with a touch of olive oil.
• Season each steak inside and out with salt, pepper and optional rub, set aside.
• Mix the remaining ingredients together divide into four and fill into the cavity of each steak.
• Cover the hole with the slice of meat.
• Grill over direct heat to mark each side of steak then more to indirect heat standing the steaks with the cut side up. Close lid and grill till thermometer registers at 145 degrees. Remove and let rest covered with foil for 10 minutes and it will raise to 155 degrees which is medium.

ROASTED LOIN OF PORK WITH FIG AND CHIPOTLE STUFFING

Steps:

• To prepare the marinade: Blend together the tamarind paste, if using, orange juice, molasses, chile powder, vinegar, oil, and basil. Pour the marinade over the pork loin in a shallow glass baking dish, cover, and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
• To prepare the stuffing: Place the figs, garlic, and pureed chipotles in a food processor and pulse until semi-smooth. Transfer to a bowl and fold in the remaining ingredients.
• To prepare the pork: Remove the pork from the marinade, reserving the marinade, and blot dry. Butterfly the loin lengthwise, leaving 1/2 inch of meat attached to connect the 2 halves of the loin. Open the pork loin and cover it with plastic wrap. Pound lightly with a butcher's mallet or heavy pan to an even thickness, 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Mound the stuffing down the center of the loin and fold it closed. Tie the loin carefully at 1-inch intervals with butcher's string. The loin may be prepared to this point up to 24 hours in advance.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Pour the marinade into a saucepan and reduce it over low heat to a glazelike consistency. Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over moderate heat and sear the meat. Transfer to a metal rack wet in a roasting pan and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 145 degrees. Bursh the pork liberally with the glaze during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Let the meat rest for 5 minutes or so before removing the twine. Slice and serve.
• Serving Suggestion: Serve with sauteed chanterelle mushrooms with apple wedges.

STUFFED PORK LOIN WITH FIGS

Steps:

• Put figs in hot water to soak. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Wriggle a thin, sharp knife into each end of meat, making a kind of pilot hole. Then use handle of a long wooden spoon to force a hole all the way through meat, making it as wide as your thumb.
• Drain when figs are tender but not mushy, reserving liquid. Stuff figs into roast, all the way to center from each end.
• Combine salt, pepper and rosemary and rub it all over meat. Put meat in a roasting pan and pour about half a cup of fruit-soaking liquid over it. Roast undisturbed for 20 minutes. Lower heat to 350 degrees and continue to cook, basting with pan juices (or added liquid, like wine or water, if necessary) every 15 minutes or so. When an instant-read thermometer registers 145 to 150 degrees - probably after 40 to 60 minutes - remove roast to a warm platter. (When checking meat, be sure thermometer is in meat, not fruit.)
• Let sit for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, put roasting pan on stove over one or two burners set to medium-high. If there is a lot of liquid, reduce it to about half a cup, scraping bottom of pan with a wooden spoon to release any brown bits. If pan is dry, add half a cup of wine and follow same process. When sauce has reduced, slice roast and serve with sauce.