Pork and Fruit Ragout

posted by: awkward wife

Adapted from The Silver Palate Cook Book, Julee Rosso & Sheila Lukins.

This takes a pretty long time to make (24-hour marinating process) but I think it is worth it. After all, you can just marinate the night before and let it sit in the fridge.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs. lean, boneless pork, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 24 apricot halves
• 1 cup dark raisins or prunes (coarsely chop prunes if used)
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 1 cup red wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
• 3 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed, ground
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• salt to taste
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 4 shallots, peeled and minced (or 3-4 tablespoons onions)
• 1 cup dry white wine, divided
• 1 quart chicken stock, divided
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 cup honey

Directions:

(I cook this in a large pan that is oven-safe.)

In large bowl, combine pork, apricots, raisins, red wine, vinegar, dill, mint, cumin seed, pepper, thyme and salt. Cover and marinate, refrigerated, for 24 hours; stir occasionally. Remove pork and fruit from marinade; reserve fruit in small bowl and reserve marinade separately. Pat pork dry with paper towels. Heat oil in large skillet and sauté meat, a few pieces at a time, until well browned. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and reserve on a plate. Drain oil from skillet (if needed) and sauté shallots over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add reserved marinade and bring to a boil, scraping up browned bits remaining in bottom of pan. Cook for several minutes, until slightly reduced; add meat back to the pan. Stir in apricots and raisins, half of white wine, half of chicken stock, bay leaves and honey; mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cover and set in middle of preheated 350 deg. oven. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes. Uncover pan and add rest of wine or stock, if meat seems too dry. Bake, uncovered, for another 30-45 minutes, or until meat is tender and sauce rich and thick. 6-8 servings.

I serve it with rice. The sauce is really tasty and the rice soaks it up.

TAGS:

marinate, pork, hearty, fruit, apricot,

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