Fennel Rubbed Pork Roast Recipes

FENNEL-RUBBED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH ROASTED FENNEL WEDGES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Crush fennel seeds with a mortar and pestle or wrap in a kitchen towel and crush with bottom of a heavy skillet.
• Pat pork dry, then sprinkle with crushed fennel seeds and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cut fennel bulbs lengthwise into 1/2-inch wedges.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch oven-proof heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Brown pork on all sides, about 6 minutes total, then transfer to a plate. Sauté garlic and fennel wedges in skillet until fennel is golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add wine, stirring and scraping up brown bits, then stir in broth and butter. Put pork on top of fennel and transfer skillet to oven. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 145 to 150°F, about 15 minutes. Transfer pork to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, transfer skillet to stovetop (handle will be hot) and boil, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid has evaporated. Stir in lemon juice and 1/4 cup chopped fennel fronds. Thinly slice pork and serve over fennel with sauce.

FENNEL-RUBBED PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Rub pork with oil; season generously with salt and pepper and rub with fennel seeds, anise seeds, and red pepper flakes, pressing to adhere.
• Place pork roast, fat side up, on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until deeply browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 135°F, 60-70 minutes.
• Transfer to a cutting board; let pork rest at least 10 minutes before slicing.
• DO AHEAD: Pork can be seasoned 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

FENNEL SEED SPIKED PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Toast the fennel seed, rosemary, thyme, and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium-low heat until strongly fragrant and the fennel seeds are lightly browned, 1 to 3 minutes. Do not let the spices burn! Place the toasted spices, sea salt, garlic, and ouzo into a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, and grind to a paste. Score the fat layer of the pork roast with a sharp knife; rub the spice paste all over the roast.
• Spread the sliced onions and fennel into the bottom of a large roasting pan; pour enough water into the pan to just cover the vegetables. Place the roast on top of the onions and fennel with the fat layer facing upward.
• Roast in the preheated oven until the pork is tender, 5 to 6 hours (or about 40 minutes per pound). An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 185 degrees F (85 degrees C). Add extra water if needed during roasting to prevent the onions and fennel from burning.

ROASTED PORK WITH FENNEL SPICE RUB

Steps:

• PORK: Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat until hot. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 1 minute. Add the sage and cook until the onions stop releasing water (about 3 minutes). Add the water, cover and cook until the onions are very tender (about 10 minutes). Uncover and saute until the onions are very soft and the pan is dry again (about 2 minutes). Season well with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Peel back the pork skin and spread the onions directly on the fat layer. Fold the skin back over the onions and tie closed with kitchen string. Season well all over with the Fennel spice. Arrange the meat on a rack in a roasting pan and cook until the meat is very tender (approx. 6-8 hours). The meat is ready when it pulls away easily if picked at with a pair of tongs. It is often easiest to cook the meat overnight or put it in the oven in the morning and let it cook all day - it doesn't need to be attended.
• FENNEL SPICE RUB: Put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. Watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. When light-brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. They must be cool before grinding or they will gum up the blades. Pour the seeds into a blender or spice grinder and add the salt. Blend to a fine powder, shaking the blender or grinder occasionally to redistribute the seeds. Store in a tightly-sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.

CRISPY FENNEL-ROLLED ROAST PORK WITH RHUBARB SAUCE

Steps:

• Lay the pork skin-side up and score the skin using a sharp knife in 2cm intervals. Turn over. Using a pestle and mortar, grind the fennel and coriander seeds, lemon thyme, garlic and ½ tbsp salt to a rough paste, then spread over the flesh-side of the pork. Roll the meat up tightly from the longest end, then tie together using butcher's string in 1cm intervals. Rub the outside of the pork with 1 tbsp salt and chill overnight or for at least 6 hrs.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 8. Put the pork in a roasting tin, drizzle over the oil and roast for 30 mins. After this time, reduce the temperature to 190C/170C fan/gas 7 and cook for 1 hr 30 mins, then remove from the oven and rest, covered in foil, for 30 mins.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Tip the rhubarb, sugar, orange juice, bay and a pinch of salt into a pan. Simmer gently for 10-15 mins, or until the rhubarb has broken down with some chunkier bits.
• Slice the pork with a sharp serrated knife (a bread knife works well) and serve with the rhubarb sauce, dauphinoise potatoes, greens or purple sprouting broccoli.