Pork Stew with Polenta

Wine: Le Deveze 66 – 2005 Cotes du Roussillon

We started with a Peach Salad. We made it with fresh peaches and Mache from The Hollywood Farmer's Market. We used Almonds, Prosciutto from The Cheese Store of Silver Lake and dressed the salad with Saba. The peaches are at their sweetest and the salad was excellent.

For the main course we made a fabulous dish: Pork Stew with Prunes and Onions. It is from the cookbook: The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen by Paula Wolfert. The dish can be made days in advance, it only taste better when re-heated. The book calls for it to be served over baked Polenta.

We use a different recipe, the recipe for Polenta from The Zuni Café Cookbook. It is made on the stove top and is much easier and just as good.

The dinner was just great. The stew is extremely rich, all of the sauces in it are reduced to be very thick and tasty! We butter a casserole and placed the excess polenta in it. We will bake it when we have leftovers.


Pork Stew with Prunes and Onions
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From: The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen – Paula Woldfert

This winter dish from southwest France has a lot going for it: well-caramelized cubes of pork; a deglazing that provides deep flavor; an embellishment of lush, sweet dried plums joined with glazed sweet-and-sour onions. The result is a rich flavorful stew that isn't the east bit cloying and that reheats beautifully

I suggest you serve this dish over Polenta.
Serves 4

1 1/2 pounds pork shoulder or butt, trimmed of excess fat

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil mixed with a pinch each of ground cinnamon, black pepper, crumbled rosemary, and thyme

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 ½ cups dry white wine

3 garlic cloves

2 medium carrots, halved crosswise

1 bay leaf

Salt

1 ¾ cups unsalted chicken stock

12 small white onions

1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon sugar

8 dried large pitted prunes (dried plums), soaked in hot water to soften

Chopped flat-leaf parsley

1. Cut the pork into 3/4-inch cubes. Toss the pieces with the spiced oil and leave in a cool place or at least 3 to 4 hours.

2. In a large; heavy flameproof casserole, cook the pork, covered, without the addition of any fat, over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Uncover and sauté, stirring frequently, until the moisture las evaporated and the pork is thoroughly browned, about 10 minutes.

3. Remove the pork to a side dish, reduce the heat to medium, and add the onion. Cook until soft and beginning to brown. Remove the onion with a slotted spoon and add to the pork.

4. Add the vinegar, mustard, and Vi cup of the white wine to the casserole. Heat to boiling, scraping up any brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan. Boil until reduced to a glaze. Add another 1/2 cup wine and reduce again. Repeat until all the wine has been reduced to a glaze. Add the garlic, carrots, and bay leaf and let them sizzle for a minute; return the pork and onions and any accumulated juices to the pan. Pour in the stock and season with salt to taste. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook very slowly for about 45 minutes.

5. Cut an X in the root end of each small onion. Blanch in a large saucepan of boiling salted water for 2 minutes. Drain and cool under cold running water. Peel the onions. Combine the onions with 1/4 cup water, the butter, and the sugar in a medium skillet. Simmer, covered, until the water evaporates, about 5 minutes. Cook, uncovered, over low heat until tender and well browned, about 8 minutes. Set aside

6. When the meat has cooked a total of 45 minutes, add the prunes and browned onions. Cover the casserole and continue cooking until the pork is soft, about 15 minutes. From time to time, swirl the casserole to keep the meat, onions, and prunes from sticking. Remove the casserole from the heat, discard the bay leaf, and correct the seasoning. Garnish with chopped parsley