Caucasus-Style Braised Pork Shoulder

Ingredients for Caucasus-Style Braised Pork Shoulder

• 4 large garlic cloves

• 3 teaspoons kosher salt

• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds

• 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds

• 3/4 teaspoons dried hot red-pepper flakes

• 60ml olive oil

• 1 (5-pound) bone-in pork shoulder roast (also called picnic roast), trimmed of excess fat and skin discarded

• 1 large red onion, chopped

• 2 cups water

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander

• 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar

• an electric coffee/spice grinder

How to make Caucasus-Style Braised Pork Shoulder

Mince garlic, then mash to a paste with 2 teaspoons kosher salt using a heavy knife. Grind coriander and fenugreek seeds and red-pepper flakes to a powder in grinder, then stir together with garlic and 2 tablespoons oil in a small bowl. Make 2-inch-deep slits all over meat with a small sharp knife and push some of paste into slits. Rub remaining paste all over meat. Put pork in a bowl and marinate, covered and chilled, at least 8 hours.

Bring meat to room temperature, about 1 hour.

Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 177°C.

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a wide 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown pork on all sides, turning with tongs and a large kitchen fork, about 8 minutes total. Transfer pork to a large plate and cook onion in fat remaining in pot, stirring occasionally and scraping up brown bits, until beginning to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Return pork to pot and add water and remaining teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then cover tightly with lid and transfer to oven. Braise, turning meat once, until very tender, about 3 hours. Cool pork in pan juices completely, uncovered, about 1 1/2 hours, then chill, covered, at least 8 hours.

Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 177°C.

Remove fat from surface of pan juices and reheat pork (with pan juices), covered, in oven 1 hour. Transfer pork to a platter using cleaned tongs and large fork. Stir coriander, vinegar, and table salt and pepper to taste into pan juices and serve with pork.

Clause de non-responsabilité

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.