Chestnut Porcini Crusted Veal Rack Recipes

CHESTNUT & PORCINI-CRUSTED VEAL RACK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas 4. Remove the veal rack from the fridge and allow to come up to room temperature.
• Place a large frying pan over a high heat. Rub the veal all over with oil and a pinch each of sea salt and black pepper. Place it in the pan and sear all over for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden brown.
• Transfer the veal to the baking tray and brush the top with the mustard.
• Place the porcini in a small bowl, cover with boiling water and leave for a couple of minutes for the mushrooms to rehydrate and soften. Pick the sage leaves.
• In a food processor, add the porcini, bread, chestnuts, sage, a pinch of salt and pepper and a decent splash of oil. Pulse until it all comes together to form a coarse paste.
• Spoon the chestnut crust onto the veal and pat it down firmly. Place the rack in the oven for 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to rest for at least 30 minutes.
• While the veal is resting, make the sauce. Squeeze the orange juice into a saucepan and combine with the remaining ingredients, plus any cooking juices from the veal pan. Place over a low heat, stirring, until smooth and combined.
• Season the sauce to taste and serve with the veal rack and some steamed winter greens.

PORCINI ROASTED VEAL SHOULDER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Tie the veal shoulder up into a nice round roast. In a blender, combine porcinis, and blend until you have a powder. Add garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper and blend again. Drizzle veal with olive oil then rub all over with powder.
• Brown veal roast in a heavy-based skillet over high heat all over - about 2 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer to the rack of a preheated oven (have a tray below to catch any drippings) and roast for about 2 hours - internal temp should read 125-130 degrees F.
• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place a large roasting tray into the oven to heat it up. When hot remove from oven and add a drizzle of olive oil. Toss potatoes, fennel and garlic onto hot sheet tray, season with salt and pepper and place into oven on a lower rack (below the veal roast). Roast for 60 minutes until golden and caramelized.

ROAST PORK TENDERLOINS WITH BALSAMIC-CHESTNUT GLAZE

Steps:

• Combine oil and 1/4 cup vinegar in heavy large roasting pan. Add pork; turn to coat. Marinate pork 1 hour at room temperature or 2 hours in refrigerator. Transfer pork to large rimmed baking sheet; pat dry. Discard marinade in pan.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread mustard over top of pork, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast pork until thermometer inserted into center registers 145°F, about 25 minutes. Remove pork from oven; let stand 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in chestnuts, garlic, sugar, and sage; cook 2 minutes. Add remaining 3 tablespoons vinegar and 3 tablespoons water; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until mixture thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Season glaze with salt and pepper.
• Slice pork into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Transfer to platter. Drizzle with warm glaze and serve.
• *To prepare fresh chestnuts, start with heavy, glossy nuts with firm, smooth shells. Cut a small cross on one side of each shell to let steam escape as the nuts roast and to make them easier to peel afterward. Place chestnuts in a shallow roasting pan; sprinkle with water. Roast in 400°F oven for 25 to 20 minutes. Wrap hot chestnuts in towl and squeeze to crush the shells. Keep nuts wrapped for 5 minutes before removing the hard outer shell and the brown skin inside, being wary of burning your fingers. One pound of fresh chestnuts equals about two cups when shelled.