Roasted Salt And Spice Packed Pork Loin Food

ROASTED SALT-AND SPICE-PACKED PORK LOIN

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 250°F. Sprinkle pork roast all over with 1 teaspoon coarse salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and fennel seeds, patting to adhere. Heat olive oil in heavy large roasting pan over medium-high heat. Place pork, fat side down, in pan. Cook until brown on all sides and on ends, holding pork upright with tongs when necessary, about 12 minutes. Transfer pork to baking sheet and cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Combine 8 cups coarse salt, 2/3 cup black pepper, allspice, and juniper berries in same roasting pan. Stir to blend. Add 1 cup water and stir to moisten. Push 2/3 to 3/4 of salt mixture to 1 side of pan, spreading remaining salt in long wide strip (about size of roast) as base for pork. Place pork, bone side down, on salt base. Pack remaining salt over entire roast, enclosing completely.
• Roast pork in salt crust until instantread thermometer inserted straight down into pork from top center registers 165°F, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Transfer roasting pan to work surface. Let pork rest 10 to 20 minutes. Remove all salt from around pork. Transfer pork to cutting board, brushing off any remaining salt. Position roast so that bones are vertical. Cut between bones and meat to remove bone slab in 1 piece.
• Place bone slab on platter. Arrange roast atop bones in original position. Carve roast and serve.
• Sold in the spice aisle of most supermarkets.
• What to drink:
• With the pork, pour a Côtes du Rhône. We like the Domaine Rouge-Bleu 2007 "Mistral" (France, $18). Its blackberry and earthy flavors and anise notes complement the meat deliciously.

PAN-ROASTED 5-SPICE PORK LOIN

Steps:

• Place the roast on its side and split in half lengthwise with a sharp knife. Make shallow slashes in a diamond pattern on both sides of each piece. Transfer halves to a flat dish.
• Whisk rice vinegar, garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, sriracha, salt, pepper, and Chinese 5-spice powder together in a bowl. Pour sauce over the meat; turn each piece over several times to thoroughly coat. Let meat marinate for about 30 minutes at room temperature. (Or transfer to a zip top bag and refrigerate for 3 or 4 hours.)
• Heat a heavy cast iron skillet over medium-high heat; add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Brown meat on each side, 4 to 5 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
• Transfer to a plate to rest at least 5 minutes before slicing.

ROASTED PORK LOIN WITH ALMOND PESTO 5 SPICE ROOT VEGETABLE POT PIE

Steps:

• In a food processor, place almonds, chilies, lime juice, garlic and ginger and mix well. Add the basil and mint leaves. Slowly drizzle in the oil to achieve a thick puree. Check for seasoning. Season the pork and spread the pesto on each pork escalope. Save a little pesto for garnishing. Roll the pork escalopes and tie each one with string. In a hot saute pan coated with oil, sear the pork roulades on all sides. Place pork in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. An internal temperature of 155 to 160 degrees is ideal. I love my pork pink. Let loin rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
• Add a little oil to thin out the remaining pesto.
• For the 5 Spice Root Vegetable Ragout: In a 2 quart saucepan on medium heat, add the butter, onions and 5 spice powder. Saute for 3 minutes then add carrots, celery, celery root and parsnips. Saute for 10 minutes then add chicken stock. Reduce stock by 30 percent until the vegetables are soft but not mushy. Stir in the cornstarch slurry to thicken. Check for seasoning.
• For the Pastry Cups: In a food processor with the blade, add flour, butter, salt and 5-spice. Pulse until butter ends up in very small, tiny pieces. Add the egg mixture and pulse until a ball is formed. If ball is too dry, add a little water or, if too wet, add a little flour. In either case, pulse to incorporate. Wrap ball in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick and dock dough (make small holes). Cut out circles or squares and place on an upside down muffin pan. Place a sheet of parchment on top then weigh down with a sheet tray. Bake at 425 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• PLATING: Zigzag pesto oil on white plate. Place one pastry cup in the center of a plate and generously over fill with vegetable ragout. Slice thick slices of pork and surround cup. Garnish with toasted almonds and sliced scallions.
• Wine Suggestion: Robert Sinskey Pinot Noir 1996

SALT CRUSTED AND SEASONED PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Thoroughly combine minces garlic with spice blend.
• Pat pork tenderloin dry with paper towel.
• Brush tenderloin with oil; sprinkle with garlic/spice mix. Press into tenderloin.
• Place long sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil on a baking pan. Place tenderloin on foil; bring edges of foil up at sides and ends; fold in allowing top of pork tenderloin to remain exposed.
• Sprinkle top of tenderloin wit kosher salt.
• Roast at 450 for 20-25 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160.
• (Salt layer will brown and crack during roasting process).
• Allow meat to rest 10 minutes. Remove and discard salt crust.
• Slice and serve.

ROASTED PORK LOIN WITH GARLIC AND SPICE RUB

Steps:

• With a sharp paring knife, cut into roast at 1-inch intervals. Insert garlic into each slit.
• Combine the fennel seeds, thyme, paprika, salt and dry mustard; rub onto all surfaces of pork.
• Place into a shallow dish; cover and refrigerate 4 to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Place shallots and potatoes in a shallow roasting pan.
• Pour broth and vermouth over vegetables; add bay leaves and bake, covered, 30 minutes.
• Remove pork from refrigerator; uncover vegetables and place pork on top of them.
• Roast, uncovered, 90 minutes longer or until thermometer reaches 150°F
• Remove pork from pan; cover with foil and let stand 10 minutes.
• Transfer vegetables to large serving platter, cover to keep warm.
• Remove bay leaves and transfer pan juices to saucepan; bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, 12 to 15 minutes or until reduced by half.
• To serve, pass pan juices to spoon over carved roast and vegetables.