Honey-Ginger Pork with Braised Kale
Though easy to assemble, this simple braise has a complex combination of sweet, salty, bitter and spicy flavors. If you like lots of greens, you can add a second bunch of Tuscan kale (also known as lacinato or dino kale), but you will need to stir it three or four times as it cooks. Serve over soba or other Asian noodles and top with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
Ingredients:
- 4 to 4 1/2 lb. (2 to 2.25 kg) boneless pork shoulder, cut into 3 equal pieces
- Kosher salt
- 1/3 cup (3 fl. oz./80 ml) mirin or medium-dry white wine
- 1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 Tbs. honey, warmed
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbs. peeled and grated fresh ginger
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeño chile, thinly sliced into rings (optional)
- 2 Tbs. canola oil (if including the optional browning step)
- 1 large bunch kale, preferably Tuscan kale, ribs removed and leaves chopped
Directions:
Season the pork pieces with salt. In a small bowl, stir together the mirin, tamari, honey, garlic, ginger, onion and chile.
If you want to brown the pork before braising it, put a flameproof slow-cooker insert on the stove top over medium-high heat, then add the oil and warm until hot. (Alternatively, if your slow-cooker insert isn’t flameproof, you can do this step in a large fry pan.) Working in batches if necessary to avoid crowding, add the pork pieces and sear them on the first side, without moving them, until well browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the pieces and sear on the second side until well browned, 3 to 4 minutes longer.
Transfer the insert to the slow cooker (or transfer the contents of the fry pan to the slow cooker) and pour the mirin-soy mixture over the pork. If you have skipped the browning step, put the pork in the slow cooker and pour in the mirin-soy mixture. Toss to coat the pork evenly with the mixture. Cover and cook on the low-heat setting for 8 hours. About 1 hour before the pork is ready, stir in the kale.
Transfer the pork to a cutting board. Break the pork into large chunks, discarding any large pieces of fat. Using a large spoon, skim off and discard any fat from the surface of the cooking liquid. Return the meat to the slow cooker and stir gently to combine.
Spoon the pork, kale and cooking liquid onto a platter or individual plates. Serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Quick Slow Cooking, by Kim Laidlaw (Weldon Owen, 2014)
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