Ragout Of Pork Catalan Recipes

RAGOûT DE PATTES DE COCHON (PORK STEW WITH MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• STOCK:.
• The day before serving the ragout, season pork hocks with salt, pepper, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
• Caramelized onions in a deep saucepan in 2 Tbsp butter (Recipe #356677). Remove from saucepan.
• In same saucepan, melt 2 tbsp fat and , then brown hocks until dark brown in colour on all sides (this is the secret to a great ragout).
• Add water, chicken bouillon cube, and onions to pork hocks. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for at least two hours, until meat falls from bones.
• At this point it's a good idea to remove pork hocks from saucepan and refrigerate the hocks and ragout overnight in fridge so that you can.
• Remove/skim the congealed fat.
• Roast flour in 350F oven until caramel brown. This takes about 1 hour. (should be dark brown but not burnt so keep an eye on it). Alternatively you may brown the flour in a hot dry pan (No oil!), stirring continuously until it's a rich, deep, brown colour. (You must be careful not to burn the flour by controlling the temperature of your pan and stirring constantly until done).
• Remove meat from bone and set aside.
• Thicken ragout by using a jar or blender to mix the roasted flour with the 1/2 cup water and pour into the ragout, stirring until well mixed and broth has thickened to a nice consistency.
• Season with salt, pepper and allspice to taste.
• Add cooked pork meatballs and pork meat and heat thoroughly.
• MEAT BALLS:.
• Mix all ingredients and pat mixture into a 1 inch thick rectangle, then cut into 1 inch squares.
• Shape each square into a 1 inch meatball.
• Bake in 400F oven for 10 minutes.
• Add to Ragoût de pattes to complete cooking.
• Ragout is sometimes served with boiled or mashed potatoes.

PENNE WITH PORK RAGOUT

Steps:

• Dry the pork well and sprinkle it on all sides with 1 tablespoon of the kosher salt and the pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, brown the pork on all sides, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the pork to a plate and set aside. While the pork is browning, tie the thyme, rosemary and bay leaf into a bundle using butcher's twine.
• Once all of the pork has been browned, reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil no oil remains in the pot. Add the onions and the remaining 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring and scraping up any browned bits. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 or 3 minutes. Deglaze with the white wine and cook until reduced to nearly dry, 6 to 10 minutes. Add the chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, Parmesan rind, chile flakes and the herb bundle and bring to a simmer. Return the pork to the pot, tucking it in under the sauce. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the pork is fork tender, about 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Remove the pork and shred into bite-size pieces using two forks. Remove the herb bundle from the sauce and add the pork back to the pot. Stir in the olive oil and half of the grated Parmesan. Keep warm over low heat.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne for about 1 or 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain and add the pasta to the sauce, tossing to coat. Finish cooking the pasta in the sauce, about 2 minutes, adding a ladle of pasta water as needed. Serve topped with the remaining grated Parmesan, or more as desired, and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish with a few leaves of baby arugula, if using.