Pork rillettes
Originating from the Loire valley of France, this is a classic way to turn an inexpensive cut of meat into a delicious dish. Serve with crusty French bread as a first course or light meal.
This recipe is taken from The Art of Preserving by Emma Macdonald (£14.99, Nourish).
Ingredients
- 8 tbsp of coarse sea salt
- 1kg pork belly , boned and rind removed
- 500g of pork back fat , chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 bouquet garni
- 1/4 tsp black peppercorns , crushed
- 1/2 tsp juniper berries , crushed
- 250ml of dry white wine
- 100ml of duck fat , or goose fat, if necessary
Method
Rub the salt into the pork belly, then put in a dish, cover and leave in the fridge for 24 hours
- 8 tbsp of coarse sea salt
- 1kg pork belly , boned and rind removed
Rinse the meat under cold running water and dry with paper towels. Cut the meat into strips about 2.5cm thick, and then in half. Put the pork belly and back fat in an ovenproof casserole dish and mix well
- 500g of pork back fat , chopped
Preheat an oven to 150°C/gas mark 2. Tuck the garlic and bouquet garni under the meat. Add the crushed peppercorns and juniper berries and pour in the wine
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 bouquet garni
- 1/4 tsp black peppercorns , crushed
- 1/2 tsp juniper berries , crushed
- 250ml of dry white wine
Cover the dish and bake for 3-4 hours until the meat is very tender
Discard the bouquet garni. Put the meat in a large sieve set over a large bowl and pour over the fat from the casserole. Press the meat lightly with the back of a wooden spoon. Leave to drain and cool for 20 minutes
When the meat is cool enough to handle, remove it from the sieve and, using two forks, pull the meat into shreds. Put the meat in a terrine or ceramic dish
Spoon off most of the fat from the bowl and reserve. Pour the juices in the bottom of the bowl over the meat and mix lightly together. Pack the meat into the dish. Pour over the reserved fat to cover the meat; add extra duck or goose fat if necessary. Cover and chill the rillettes for 2-3 hours until the fat has set, then store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks
- 100ml of duck fat , or goose fat, if necessary
To serve, leave at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Serve straight from the terrine or dish. Once the seal of fat is broken, eat within 3 days
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Pork rillettes
