Braised pork - general principles and methods of preparation
Stewed pork is a traditional dish for Russian cuisine, it can be prepared with various ingredients - potatoes, vegetables, rice, mushrooms, dried fruits or nuts. The taste of pork in many respects depends not only on the added ingredients and sauces, but also on the skill of the cook.
Any part of the carcass is suitable for stewing, moreover, aromatic are obtained not only soft slices of pork, but also meat with bone.
As a rule, there are no special difficulties in preparing this dish, since the meat is very tender and juicy, the fat secreted by it can save the situation even if the sauce or marinade is not entirely successful. As a dressing, you can use white or red wine, beer, orange juice.
Braised Pork - Preparation
As a rule, pork is cooked before cooking. In the case of salted pork, it should be boiled so that excess salt goes into the water. Raw pork is slightly fried in a pan, vegetable oil should not be added, the meat itself contains a fairly large amount of fat that will be released during heat treatment (if less fatty pieces of pork are used, you can add a little fat or fat to the pan).
Quite often, raw pork is pickled several hours before cooking in special sauces, for example, wine or in vinegar with herbs and spices. This process makes the taste of meat more intense and interesting. Later, left over from pickling pork, dressing can be used for stewing.
Braised Pork - Cooking Utensils
Pork is stewed in a frying pan, cast iron, ducklings, enameled pan, clay and even glassware. You can cook the dish on an open fire, stove, in a Russian stove or oven. The only condition is that the cooking container is spacious, in which case the meat will lie free, break apart without any problems and absorb the whole aroma of the gravy.
Recipe 1: Pork Stew with Potatoes
Pork stew with potatoes is one of the most popular dishes among Russian housewives; it is prepared not only for the holidays, but also for a regular dinner.
Ingredients:
- 400 grams of pork;
- 500 grams of potatoes;
- 2 carrots;
- 2 onions;
- 2 tomatoes;
- greens (basil, dill, parsley);
- 2-3 pieces of bay leaf;
- 3-4 pieces of pepper peas;
- ground black pepper;
- meat seasonings (if necessary);
- salt.
Cooking method
Peel the potatoes, wash them, cut them into cubes, put them in the chicken bowl, add water (the liquid should cover the potatoes completely), salt, put on a small fire, add bay leaf and peas.
Cut the meat into medium-sized pieces, fry. Add finely chopped onions and grated carrots to the meat pan, saute for 10-15 minutes.
We shift the meat and vegetables to the potatoes and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Add greens and ground pepper a few minutes before cooking.
After turning off the heat, cover the lobster with a lid and let the dish stand for 10 minutes.
Recipe 2: Pork with Beer and Vegetables
Beer perfectly complements pork, and it is not necessary to drink it at all, it can be used as dressing for meat.
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of pork;
- 1 carrot;
- 2 onions;
- 3 tomatoes;
- 1 bell pepper;
- 1 glass of dark beer;
- 250 grams of sour cream;
- 200 grams of cheese;
- ground black pepper;
- salt.
Cooking method
Cut the pork into medium-sized pieces, finely chop the vegetables, grate the cheese. Fry the meat, put vegetables and continue the roasting process. Add salt and spices.
It is necessary to simmer the dish for about an hour, a few minutes before readiness, add beer and sour cream, turn off the heat, fill in cheese. Having thoroughly mixed the dish, it is necessary to cover it with a lid and let it brew for 10-15 minutes.
Recipe 3: Pork Stew with Apples
Pork with apples is a classic combination that has been used by Russian culinary specialists for many centuries.
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of pork;
- 80-100 grams of apples;
- 2 onions;
- 50 grams of fat;
- 30 grams of wheat flour;
- 3 tablespoons of caraway seeds;
- salt.
Cooking method
Grate a whole piece of pork with salt, breaded in flour and fry in fat. Transfer the meat to the stewing container, pour the remaining fat in the pan, add caraway seeds, finely chopped apples and fresh onion rings.
The meat is stewed until cooked (about 2 hours). Put the pork on a separate plate and continue cooking the sauce based on the liquid in which the meat was stewed.
The liquid from the container should be drained into a separate bowl, add flour, boil and strain through gauze.
Pork is served on a table, sliced, the sauce is exposed in a separate bowl. Boiled potatoes, rice, fresh vegetables or sauerkraut are served as a side dish for pork stewed with apples.
Recipe 4: Pork Stewed with Prunes and Mushrooms
Meat with dried fruits is an unconventional dish, but this makes it equally tasty.
Ingredients:
- 250 grams of pork;
- 80 grams of prunes;
- 40 grams of dried mushrooms;
- 1 onion;
- 2 tablespoons of tomato paste;
- 15 grams of pork fat;
- ground black pepper;
- salt.
Cooking method
Boil mushrooms in salted water, cut into small pieces. Chop and fry the pork using fat. Soak prunes in water.
Put meat, a fried mixture of onions, carrots, tomato paste and mushrooms in a stewing container, add mushroom broth and stew. 30 minutes before ready to put prunes.
Braised Pork - Useful Tips from Experienced Cooks
- Pork neck and scapula are considered ideal for stewing.
- Before heat treatment, it is better to marinate the meat, in which case the dish will turn out to be especially aromatic and soft.
- Culinary experts advise adding peeled chestnuts to the meat when stewing, they improve the taste.
- Braised pork is cooked over low heat.
