Zarela’s Christmas Pork and Root Purée
Arthur wrote:This year, however, we were in for a slightly different treat. Instead of the ham, Zarela braised marinated well-spiced pork butts in a blend of sauerkraut, cabbage, carrots, onions, and leeks. Mary Jo and Ira come to Zarela for Christmas these days and even Mary Jo thought this new recipe was worth deviating from longstanding custom.It ends up she’d used a recipe – more or less – from the most recent edition of the Joy of Cooking. I checked. It’s not in the previous editions. Instead of using sweet paprika, Zarela used hot paprika. She is Mexican, after all. She made a point of letting the meat marinate a full 24 hours with its spice rub, and instead of olive oil or bacon fat to brown the meat, she used her own home-rendered lard .Otherwise, this is the recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
- 4 pounds Boston-style pork shoulder butt, or blade roast, excess fat trimmed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or bacon fat
- 4 cups shredded cabbage
- 2 cups thinly sliced onions
- ½ cup diced carrots
- ½ cup thinly sliced leeks white part only
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 pound sauerkraut rinsed and drained
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 12 ounces dark beer
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
- 1 teaspoon dried savory
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the sweet paprika, salt, black pepper, sage, thyme, and dry mustard with a fork. Pat the meat dry and rub with the spice mixture. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 24 hours.
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325°F.
- In a large heavy Dutch oven, brown the meat over medium heat on all sides in the olive oil or bacon fat.
- Remove the meat to a plate temporarily.
- Pour off the rendered fat, leaving 2 tablespoons in the pan. Add the cabbage, onions, carrots, and leeks. Cover the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until the vegetables are softened and the cabbage is wilted, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook for another minute. Add the sauerkraut, chicken stock, beer, caraway seeds, dried savory, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil.
- Return the meat to the pan, nestling it into the cabbage mixture. Cover and braise in the oven for 2 hours. Check the meat. It should be fork tender. If not, cook for 30 to 60 minutes more. Remove the meat from the pan and skim off any fat from the pan juices. Slice the meat and serve with the vegetables and pan juices.
Notes
Another one of Zarela’s Christmas traditions is an amazing Coffee Crunch Cake. This year, however, she made it for Christmas Eve and when I arrived on Christmas Day, there was no more left. Just another reason that I thought I should finally get the recipe and learn how to make it myself. I haven’t had a chance to bake it yet, but it’s very high on my list of priorities.
Nutrition
Calories: 312kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 30gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 830mgPotassium: 788mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1737IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 3mg