Slow Cooker Pork Fennel Ragu Food

SLOW-COOKER PORK RAGU

Steps:

• Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
• In 5-quart Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium-high heat 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp. With slotted spoon, remove bacon to small bowl.
• Season pork with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Add half of the pork to bacon drippings in Dutch oven, and cook 4 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned. With slotted spoon, remove pork from Dutch oven to slow cooker. Repeat with remaining pork.
• Add onions, carrots, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to Dutch oven; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened. Stir in garlic and oregano; cook 30 seconds. Add broth; heat to simmering, stirring to remove brown bits on bottom. Transfer mixture to slow cooker with pork. Stir in tomatoes and bacon.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours or until pork is tender and easily falls apart. Before serving, shred pork with two forks. Serve over cooked pasta. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh herbs.

PORK AND FENNEL RAGU

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium high heat. Add onion, fennel and garlic, cook for 5 minutes.
• Add fennel seeds and next 7 ingredients (through to pork), stirring to combine, saute 3 minutes.
• Add tomato and broth, bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over hot pasta.

SLOW-ROASTED PORK WITH FENNEL & BLACK PEPPER

Steps:

• Cut the string from the joint and unroll it. Flatten out as much as possible, cutting through any thick pieces if necessary to give you an even thickness of meat. Mix the garlic, fennel, pepper, rosemary, bay and 1 tsp salt. Sprinkle evenly over all sides of the pork and massage it in. Place on a platter, cover loosely with foil and chill for at least 4 hrs or up to 24 hrs.
• Re-roll the joint and tie at intervals along its length with string. Bring to room temp an hr before roasting and heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Roast the pork in a roasting tin for 2 hrs, basting occasionally and adding the wine after 1 hr. Remove from the oven, transfer to a platter and pour over the pan juices. Cover tightly with foil and leave to rest for 15 mins. Serve with beans (see 'Goes well with') and salad (see below).