Beer Braised Pork Cheeks

Beer Braised Pork Cheeks

Pork Cheeks Recipe

“Beer Braised Pork Cheeks, Creamed Carrots and Crispy Potatoes.”

Prep Time : 45 Minutes

Cook Time :  3 Hours

Serves : 4

Ingredients :

• Pork cheeks

• 12 pork cheeks
• 330 ml of your favorite beer (not lager)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 carrots, diced
• 1 garlic bulb, halved
• 2 apples, quartered

• To cook the pork cheeks

• 150 ml of rapeseed oil
• 1 sprig of sage
• 2 fresh bay leaves
• 2 lt. chicken stock
• 1 lt. of veal stock, brown

• Creamed carrots

• 150 g of shallots, peeled, finely sliced
• 1.5 kg carrots, peeled, finely sliced
• 1000 ml of chicken stock
• 65 g of unsalted butter
• salt
• ground white pepper

• Onions and Potatoes

• 12 button onions, peeled
• 500 g of roasting potatoes, diced into 2 cm cubes
• rapeseed oil
• salt
• pepper

• To garnish

• 1 tbsp of chives, chopped

Directions :

• Begin by marinating the pork cheeks.
• Combine the onion, carrot, garlic, apple and beer in a large resealable container.
• Add the pork cheeks, seal the container and place in the fridge to marinate overnight
• Once ready, strain off and reserve the marinade, keeping the liquid and apple quarters in 1 bowl and the vegetables in another.
• Place a shallow, heavy-based saucepan over a high heat and add the rapeseed oil.
• Once hot, seal the marinated pork cheeks until lightly golden brown all over
• Remove the cheeks from the pan and place in a colander over a bowl to drain off any excess oil.
• Add the reserved vegetables to the same pan and cook until golden brown.
• Add the sage and bay, followed by the reserved marinade and apple quarters.
• Bring to the boil, lower to a simmer and reduce by three quarters.
• Place the browned cheeks into a clean pan, then pour in the reduced liquid
• Pour in the chicken and brown veal stock, then place the pan over a medium heat.
• Bring to the boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 2 1/2 – 3 hours
• Meanwhile, place a heavy-based saucepan over a medium heat and add the butter.
• Once melted and foaming, add the sliced shallots and sweat for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the sliced carrots and continue to sweat for a further 4-5 minutes
• Add the chicken stock, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15–20 minutes until the carrots are cooked through
• Strain and reserve the cooking liquor.
• Transfer the cooked carrots and shallots to a blender, adding a dash of the reserved liquor, and blitz to form a smooth, thick purée.
• Pass through a fine sieve and season to taste with salt and white pepper.
• Return to a clean pan to reheat later
• Once the pork cheeks are tender to the touch, remove from the stock and set aside in a shallow tray to cool
• Pass the cooking liquor through a fine sieve into a thick-bottomed saucepan and return to the stove.
• Bring to the boil, lower the heat to a gentle simmer and reduce to a gravy-like consistency.
• Keep warm until required.
• While the sauce is reducing, blanch the peeled button onions in boiling water for 2 minutes.
• Remove and refresh in iced water.  Once cool, cut in half and set aside
• Add the diced potatoes to a saucepan of cold lightly salted water, bring to the boil for 1 minute and remove from the heat.
• Strain immediately and set aside
• To finish the potatoes and onions, place a large frying pan over a high heat and add a good dash of rapeseed oil.
• Once hot, add the onions and potatoes and sauté until golden.
• Season with a little salt and pepper and set aside in a warm place
• Once ready to serve, reheat the pork cheeks in the gravy and gently reheat the creamed carrots.
• Place 3 pork cheeks onto each plate, followed by the hot potatoes, onions and purée.
• Garnish with some chopped chives and serve immediately

Recipe brought to you courtesy of In House Butchers, Malta, supplying you with, the best and freshest pork products and value for your money.