Gorgonzola-Stuffed Pork Chops
This is a perfect mid-week meal, easy to make and easy to clean up.Ingredients
Serves 2
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
2 x ½ lb (500 g) bone-in pork chops
salt and pepper, to taste
6 tbsp + 2 tbsp (90 ml + 30 ml) Gorgonzola, divided
2 tbsp (30 ml) unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
½ red onion, sliced
2 Bosc pears, cored and cut into eighths
1 tbsp (15 ml) red wine vinegar
2 tbsp (30 ml) Dijon
½ cup (125 ml) white wine
7 sprigs thyme
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
- In a large ovenproof frying pan with a lid, heat oil over medium-high. Season pork chops with salt and pepper and sear until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Remove from frying pan and allow to cool until temperature is manageable for handling. Using a paring knife, cut a deep pocket (without going all the way through) in thickest side of each pork chop. Divide 6 tbsp (90 ml) of Gorgonzola in half and fill each pocket.
- In same frying pan from step 2, over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add garlic, red onions and pears. Sauté until soft, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix vinegar, Dijon and white wine. Pour mixture into frying pan and cook for 1 minute. Add pork chops back into pan with thyme and cover with lid. Place frying pan in oven and cook until pork chops reach a temperature of 155 F to 160 F (68 C to 71 C), about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Serve with remaining Gorgonzola crumbled over top.
Drink Pairings
Grilled Pork Belly
Korean Barbecue is a communal meal. All the items are laid out on the table with a portable grill in the middle. The meal consists of lots of small side dishes. Eat the meats as described in the recipes as little lettuce packages, on their own, or with rice and kimchi—it's up to you!Ingredients
Serves 4-6
1 lb (500 g) sliced pork belly
½ head green lettuce, washed, to serve
1 bunch perilla leaves, to serve (optional)
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, to serve
2 Korean chili peppers or serrano peppers, thinly sliced
white short grain rice, cooked, to serve
Fermented Bean Sauce, make ahead (recipe in Fall issue) to serve
Instructions
- Cook pork belly pieces on Korean grill over medium-high heat until cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Cut into bite-sized pieces to serve.
- To eat, if desired, rip a piece of lettuce into a bite-sized piece, fill with a perilla leaf, a piece of pork belly, sliced garlic, chili, rice and some Fermented Bean Sauce.
Drink Pairings
Handmade Orecchiette with Brussels Sprouts & Sausage
Making your own pasta shouldn't be daunting task. Here is a delicious recipe that should make your handmade pasta snap!Ingredients
Serves 2 to 4
Handmade Orecchiette* recipe follows
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
3 Italian sausages, casings removed
15 Brussels sprouts, shredded
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp (5 ml) chili flakes
1 lemon, juice only
salt and pepper, to taste
½ cup (125 ml) panko bread crumbs, toasted
¼ cup (60 ml) chopped parsley
1 cup (250 ml) grated Parmesan, divided
*This recipe can be made with store-bought orecchiette pasta, if desired.
HANDMADE ORECCHIETTE:
2½ cups (625 ml) semolina flour
½ tsp (2 ml) salt
¾ cup (175 ml) warm water
Instructions
- Prepare Handmade Orecchiette (recipe follows) or use store bought.
- In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown the sausage meat in pan, using a wooden spoon to gently break apart the sausage as it cooks to form a mince. Add Brussels sprouts, garlic, chili flakes and lemon juice. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, until Brussel sprouts are soft. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Bring 16 cups (4 L) of water to a boil. Season generously with salt. Cook pasta for 2 to 3 minutes, if using fresh. (If using store bought, prepare according to package instructions.) Reserve ½ cup (125 ml) of pasta water and set aside before straining.
- Reheat sausage mixture. Add pasta water and pasta. Stir to combine and let cook for 2 minutes.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix together bread crumbs, parsley and ½ cup (125 ml) of Parmesan.
- Serve pasta topped with toasted panko crumb mixture and extra ½ cup (125 ml) of Parmesan.
- HANDMADE ORECCHIETTE:
- In a stainless steel mixing bowl, mix together 2½ cups (625 ml) semolina flour and salt. With hands, make a small well in middle of flour mixture. Pour warm water into well. With floured hands gently bring some of the flour from the outside into the water until a shaggy dough forms. Place dough onto a clean, floured surface. Bring dough together into a ball and knead until dough is smooth and bounces back when poked, about 5 to 8 minutes. Wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap and set aside for 30 minutes.
- Once dough has rested, cut into 4 even sections. Work with 1 piece of dough at a time, keeping remaining portions covered so they don’t dry out. Dust a work surface with semolina flour, roll out dough to make a rope about ½-in (1.25 cm) thick. Cut rope into small pieces, about a thumb width each. Using back of a dinner knife, starting at top of 1 piece of dough, drag knife towards you, pushing the dough ball flat. It will look like a little disk with curled up sides. Flip disk inside out to make a rounded cone. Repeat with rest of dough. Place finished pasta shapes on a floured tray until ready to cook.
Drink Pairings
Handmade Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter, Pancetta & Sage
Making your own pasta shouldn't be daunting task. Here is a delicious recipe that should make your handmade pasta snap!Ingredients
Serves 2 to 4
Handmade* Butternut Squash Ravioli, recipe follows
6 slices pancetta
1 cup (250 ml) salted butter
6 sage leaves
½ cup (125 ml) Parmesan
*This recipe can be made with store-bought ravioli pasta, if desired.
HANDMADE BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI:
300 g of flour, plus extra for dusting, about 2 cups (500 ml) + 2 tbsp (30 ml)
¼ tsp (2 ml) salt
3 eggs + 1 egg yolk (should yield 180 g, if short, top up with olive oil)
1 small butternut squash, roasted (should yield about 3 cups (750 ml) of roasted squash)
1 cup (250 ml) grated Parmesan
⅛ tsp (1 ml) nutmeg
¼ tsp (2 ml) cinnamon
salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Handmade Butternut Squash Ravioli (recipe follows) or use store bought.
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and lay pancetta slices flat. Cook for 8 minutes or until crisp. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add sage leaves and gently fry until crisp. Remove leaves to a paper towel. If butter is still light in colour continue to cook over medium until golden brown and nutty smelling. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Bring 16 cups (4 L) of water to boil. Season generously with salt. Cook Handmade Squash Ravioli until it floats, or 4 to 5 minutes. (If using store bought, prepare according to package instructions.)
- Plate ravioli on a serving platter and drizzle with browned butter. Sprinkle with ½ cup (125 ml) of Parmesan, fried sage leaves and crinkled pancetta.
- HANDMADE BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI:
- On a clean, floured surface place the flour and ¼ tsp (2 ml) salt. Using hands, create a well in the centre big enough to hold the eggs.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk eggs (and olive oil, if needed). Pour egg mixture into the well. Using a fork, gently bring the sides of the flour well into the egg mixture until a shaggy dough forms. Continue to incorporate all the flour by scooping it from the outside and placing it on top of the shaggy dough and kneading it out. Once a ball has formed, knead for about 10 minutes. It is ready when you have a soft, elastic dough that isn’t sticky and feels smooth. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and rest for 30 minutes.
- While dough is resting, make the filling.
- In bowl of a food processor, add roasted squash, Parmesan, nutmeg and cinnamon. Season with salt and pepper and pulse on medium until smooth. Place in a piping bag until ready to use.
- Unwrap dough and place on a clean, lightly floured surface. Cut into 2 halves and keep a tea towel over half you aren’t working on, so it doesn’t dry out. Lightly flour a rolling pin and roll out dough ball as thin as possible. This can take a few minutes. If dough is bouncing back, try flipping it over and keep rolling. You should have a long rectangle, about 4-in (10 cm) wide. Pipe quarter-sized dollops along bottom half of pasta sheet. Make sure to leave ¾-in (2 cm) space between each dollop.
- Using a small bowl filled with water, wet index finger and lightly brush around sides of filling. Fold top half of pasta sheet over filling to meet bottom edge. Using hands, press around filling to close ravioli. Make sure there’s no air inside. Cut ravioli into individual pieces and place on a floured surface until ready to boil. Repeat with remaining dough.
Drink Pairings
Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Roulade with Pesto
A delicious menu idea for your Thanksgiving table.Ingredients
Serves 6-8
¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
1 cup (250 ml) chopped shallots or yellow onions
½ cup (125 ml) chopped celery
3 garlic cloves, crushed
¾ cup (175 ml) pesto
½ cup (125 ml) panko bread crumbs
2 boneless, skinless turkey breasts
3 tbsp (45 ml) + 2 tbsp (30 ml) Seasoning Rub, make ahead, recipe follows, divided
½ cup (125 ml) butter, chilled and shredded
1½ lbs (750 g) bacon, thinly sliced
SEASONING RUB
3 tbsp (45 ml) salt
2 tsp (10 ml) freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp (10 ml) paprika
1 tbsp (15 ml) brown sugar
1 tbsp (15 ml) sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) ground garlic
1 tsp (5 ml) ground ginger
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil until shimmering. Add shallots (or onions) and celery and cook until translucent, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool for about 10 minutes.
- Add pesto and panko bread crumbs. Mix well and allow to cool. Can be refrigerated for up to 2 days if not using right away. Bring to room temperature before using.
- Place a clean piece of parchment paper approximately 15-in (38 cm) x 24-in (60 cm) on clean surface, long edge facing you.
- Using a sharp knife, butterfly the turkey breast to relatively even thickness, making sure not to cut all the way through. Cover with plastic wrap. Using blunt side of a mallet, pound covered turkey to about 1-in (2.5 cm) to 1½-in (3.75 cm) thickness. Discard plastic wrap. Spread turkey breast in centre of parchment paper, slightly overlapping pieces, to form a rectangle, with its long edge facing parallel to you.
- Generously sprinkle 3 tbsp (45 ml) of Seasoning Rub evenly across surface of turkey and gently rub it in. Evenly spread pesto filling in centre of butterflied turkey breast. Sprinkle with chilled shredded butter. Fold 1 edge of turkey breast over filling, then the other, to form a roll. Generously sprinkle remaining 2 tbsp (30 ml) Seasoning Rub over surface of roulade. Roll it tightly in parchment paper and twist ends to look like candy wrapper. Refrigerate overnight or at least 1 hour.
- Place another clean piece of parchment paper approximately 15-in (38 cm) x 24-in (60 cm) on a clean surface, long edge facing you. Place 1 bacon rasher vertically along shorter side of parchment paper. Place another bacon rasher over edge of the first one. Repeat until all bacon is used and its width is the same as the length of the roulade.
- Unwrap roulade and place across bacon layers. Fold each rasher of bacon tightly over to wrap around roulade. Fold parchment paper over to tightly wrap the roulade again. Refrigerate up to 1 day. When ready to use, unwrap roulade and place on large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, seam side down. Bring to room temperature before baking.
- Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
- Bake prepared roulade for about 1 hour or until centre of the turkey registers 155 F (68 C) on a cooking thermometer and bacon is well browned. If bacon looks cooked but turkey has not reached required internal temperature, cover with foil and continue baking until turkey is cooked, checking every 10 minutes. Remove from oven and loosely cover with foil for 30 minutes before serving.
Drink Pairings
PORK SLIDERS
Ingredients
Serves 8
¾ cup (175 ml) barbecue sauce
1 tbsp (15 ml) molasses
2 tbsp (30 ml) ketchup
3 tbsp (45 ml) apple cider vinegar, divided
1 tbsp (15 ml) brown sugar
1½ lbs (680 g) ground pork
2 tsp (10 ml) Cajun seasoning
2 tbsp (30 ml) vegetable oil
1 cup (250 ml) thinly sliced red cabbage
¼ cup (60 ml) julienned carrots
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp (5 ml) grainy mustard
3 tbsp (45 ml) mayonnaise, divided
salt and pepper, to taste
8 slider buns, halved
1 small bag hickory sticks
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, cook barbecue sauce, molasses, ketchup, 2 tbsp (30 ml) apple cider vinegar and brown sugar until reduced by half, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Divide ground pork into 8 patties. Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.
- Preheat barbecue to medium-high and grease grills with 2 tbsp (30 ml) oil. Brush patties with barbeque sauce mixture.
- To make cabbage slaw, in a medium-sized bowl, mix cabbage, carrot, green onion, remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) apple cider vinegar, mustard and 2 tbsp (30 ml) mayonnaise. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Grill patties for 4 to 6 minutes, until cooked to 160 F (70 C), turning frequently and brushing with barbecue sauce mixture. While patties are cooking, warm buns cut-side down on top rack of barbecue.
- Remove patties from barbecue and let rest for 1 to 2 minutes.
- To assemble burgers, place a patty on each bottom bun, add remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) mayonnaise and drizzle with more remaining barbecue sauce mixture. Divide cabbage slaw evenly between burgers and top with hickory sticks and bun tops.
Drink Pairings
Bourbon Molasses Pork Ribs
Ingredients
Serves 4
1 tbsp (15 ml) barbecue dry rub mix
2 tbsp (30 ml) brown sugar, divided
2 tsp (10 ml) kosher salt
¼ tsp (1 ml) freshly ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 racks baby back ribs, silver skin removed
1 cup (250 ml) barbecue sauce
3 tbsp (45 ml) bourbon
2 tbsp (30 ml) molasses
2 tbsp (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp (15 ml) ketchup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 F (150 C).
- In a small bowl, mix barbecue dry rub, 1 tbsp (15 ml) brown sugar, salt, black pepper and cayenne. Sprinkle rub evenly over both sides of ribs then wrap well in heavy duty foil, place on a baking tray and bake in oven until fork-tender, 3½ to 4 hours. This can be done up to 2 days ahead of serving. (If serving later, let cool completely and store in refrigerator.)
- Meanwhile, place remaining ingredients (including remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) sugar) in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until reduced by half, about 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside. (Or refrigerate if not using within one hour.)
- Preheat barbecue to medium, then cook ribs, turning constantly and brushing with barbecue sauce, until hot and glazed well with sauce. Serve with your favourite sides.
Drink Pairings
Honey Mustard-Glazed Ham
Ingredients
Serves 6
5 lb (2.27 kg) bone-in half ham, skin removed (do not trim fat)
¼ cup (60 ml) water
1 cup (250 ml) butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 whole rosemary sprig, plus extra for garnish
1 cup (250 ml) grainy Dijon mustard
1½ cups (375 ml) honey
½ cup (125 ml) brown sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) ground allspice
1 tsp (5 ml) ground cinnamon
½ tsp (2.5 ml) cayenne pepper
2 tsp (10 ml) black pepper
3 tbsp (45 ml) hot sauce
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife, carefully score a 1-in (2.5 cm) diamond pattern into the fat of the ham, ¼-in (0.5 cm) deep.
- Place ham on a rimmed, parchment-lined baking sheet and let it come to room temperature, about 1 to 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 325 F (170 C).
- Pour ¼ cup (60 ml) water onto baking sheet with ham and cover entire sheet with foil. Transfer to oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until butter is light brown, watching carefully and stirring occasionally; timing will vary depending on stove.
- Add garlic and 1 rosemary sprig and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in mustard, honey, brown sugar, spices and hot sauce. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and set aside.
- Remove ham from oven and remove foil. Brush a quarter of the glaze over ham, making sure to spread it into scored areas.
- Return ham to oven and bake, uncovered, for about 1½ to 2 hours, or until ham reaches an internal temperature of 145 F (63 C). Glaze ham every 10 to 15 minutes, rewarming glaze if it cools too much to brush on ham.
- Once ham is cooked, remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with whole rosemary sprigs.
Drink Pairings
Bánh Xèo served with Nuóc Chấm
Ingredients
Serves 6
7 oz (200 g) Bánh Xèo pancake flour*
1 tsp (5 ml) ground turmeric
1 tsp (5 ml) table salt
1 x 400 ml (14 oz) can coconut milk
1 cup (250 ml) warm water
2 green onions, trimmed and thinly sliced
8 oz (250 g) pork belly, cut into ½-in (1.25 cm) thick strips
¾ tsp (4 ml) table salt
1 cup (250 ml) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped garlic (optional)
4 tbsp (60 ml) vegetable oil, divided
1½ cups (375 ml) bean sprouts, divided
6 tbsp (90 ml) cooked mung beans, divided (optional)
1 head green leaf or Boston lettuce, whole leaves separated, washed and dried
1 bunch mint, washed and dried
1 bunch cilantro, washed and dried
1 bunch Vietnamese perilla (optional), washed and dried
* Available at Asian grocery stores. If you can’t find it, combine 1/3 cup (75 ml) rice flour, ¼ cup (60 ml) all-purpose flour and 3 tbsp (45 ml) cornstarch. All flours must be spooned to measure; total weight should be 7 oz (200 g).
Nuóc Châ´m, make ahead, recipe follows, to serve
3 tbsp (45 ml) sugar
⅔ cup (150 ml) lukewarm water
¼ cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
¼ cup (60 ml) fish sauce
1 garlic clove, finely chopped (optional)
1 small red Thai chili, thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together Bánh Xèo flour, turmeric and salt. Add coconut milk and warm water and whisk until batter is smooth and there are no lumps. Stir in green onion. Cover and let rest for 1 hour, if possible.
- Season pork belly with salt. In a large skillet over high heat, fry pork until edges are brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a plate, reserving skillet with rendered fat for next step. Set aside.
- In same skillet, fry prawns in rendered pork fat for about 1 minute per side. Transfer prawns to a separate plate and set aside, again reserving skillet for next step.
- In same skillet, fry onions and garlic, if using, over medium-high heat until translucent. Remove from heat and add to cooked pork.
- Give batter a quick stir to integrate ingredients. In a 10-in (25 cm) non-stick skillet or crêpe pan, heat 2 tsp (10 ml) oil over medium-high heat. Using a ladle, pour ½ cup (125 ml) batter into hot skillet and carefully but quickly swirl skillet to evenly distribute batter over surface.
- Spread 1/6 of pork and onion mixture onto ½ of crêpe. Add 1/6 of prawns over top. Sprinkle over 1 tbsp (15 ml) mung beans, if using, and about ¼ cup (60 ml) bean sprouts over filling. Cover skillet, reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes. Remove lid, increase heat to medium-high and continue cooking for another 3 to 5 minutes to allow bottom of crêpe to crisp up slightly. Fold crêpe in half over filling and transfer to serving plate. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Serve with whole lettuce leaves, mint, cilantro and perilla, if using, alongside. To eat, tear or cut pieces of crêpe, wrap up with lettuce and herbs and dip in Nuóc Châ´m.
- To prepare Nuóc Châ´m, In a small bowl, combine sugar and water and stir until dissolved. Add lime juice, fish sauce, garlic, if using, and chili and stir to combine. Makes 1¼ cups (310 ml)
Drink Pairings
Pork Meatballs
Ingredients
Serves 12 to 15 meatballs
¾ lb (340 g) ground pork
2 tbsp (30 ml) finely minced ginger
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 green onion, trimmed and finely minced
1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce
1 tbsp (15 ml) sugar
1 egg yolk
2 pinches ground white pepper
2 tsp (10 ml) cornstarch
½ tsp (2.5 ml) sesame oil
1 tsp (5 ml) Shaoxing cooking wine
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until very smooth, about 1 minute. This can be done up to 2 days ahead and transferred to an airtight container. When ready to serve, portion out 2 tbsp (30 ml) sized meatballs and transfer to a serving plate. Refrigerate until ready to use.