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Menu Plan for Spring II: Week 2, Day 2
Pork Loin Braised with Sage and Olives
Potato and Garlic Gratin
Fried Carrots
Cooking time: 100 minutes for menu Cooking schedule: see below for instructions
This is the last braise of the season.
Braised Pork with White Wine, Olives and Sage
Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Braised pork with the flavors of the Mediterranean.
Ingredients:
- 1 pork loin roast, 20oz (600gr)
- 2 tbs persillade which is
- 1 tbs parsley
- 2 cloves garlic - chopped very finely, together
- 10 - 12 sage leaves substitute 2 tbs dried
- 10 - 12 olives, black or green, pitted or not
- 1 cup (8oz, 240ml) of white wine
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 tbs cornstarch (maizena, corn flour) dissolved in 2 tbs chicken stock
Instructions:
- In heavy pot or oven with tight-fitting lid, brown pork in olive oil.
- Mince garlic and parsley.
- After turning pork, spread persillade over the top of the pork.
- Add the sage leaves, olives and white wine, turn heat to low, cover and braise for 1 1/2 hours.
- Remove pork and keep warm. Either use a meat thermometer or slice into the middle to make certain it's done. Slightly pink is okay. (If it's not done, cut into thick slices and put back into the pan for 5 minutes.)
- Dissolve cornstarch in chicken stock.
- Stir cornstarch into pan juices to thicken.
- Cut pork into thick slices, spoon some of the thickened sauce over the top and serve, remaining sauce on the side.
Potato and Garlic Gratin
Total time: 70 minutes
Simple ingredients but complex tastes. Yes, there is a lot of garlic, but it bakes with the potatoes, turning soft and sweet and giving a wonderful flavor to the dish. Discard the bay leaves.... This is based on a recipe from Provence the Beautiful
Ingredients:
- 2 medium potatoes, about 12oz (360gr) total
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 10 cloves of garlic
- 3 bay (laurel) leaves
- boiling water as needed
- sea salt
Instructions:
- Boil 1 - 2 cups water.
- Peel the garlic and cut cloves in half.
- Slice potatoes as thinly as possible with a sharp knife.
- Put the potatoes into a large bowl.
- Add olive oil and mix well. Use your hands, separating the slices to get each one coated.
- Spread half of the sliced potatoes in the bottom of small baking dish - just big enough to hold everything.
- Sprinkle with the garlic and add the bay leaves.
- Spread the remaining potatoes slices on top.
- Pour enough boiling water over to almost, but not quit cover.
- Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Bake, 400F (200C) uncovered, until potatoes are tender, about 60 minutes.
- If the top starts to get too brown cover with foil to finish.
- Remove and serve.
Fried Carrots
Total time: 20 minutes
The first time I made Beef Provencal the recipe instructed to fry the carrots before adding to the stew. They were so good, I started frying them just a bit longer and eating them on their own. It caramelizes the sugars and turns them golden and sweet.
Ingredients:
- 2 - 3 large carrots
- 1/2 tbs olive oil
- 1/2 tbs butter
- salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Peel and slice carrots into 1/4 inch thick (.65 cm) rounds.
- Heat butter and oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Add carrot slices in one layer.
- Let fry undisturbed for 8 - 10 minutes. Check one after 7 minutes to make certain they're not getting too brown.
- Turn them over and fry the other side. They should be getting a few light brown spots on them where the sugar (from the carrots) is caramelizing. Fry another 7 minutes then check again. The second side will brown faster than the first.
- When they are done to your liking, remove to a paper towel to absorb the excess oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.
Cooking Schedule: 1 hour 45 minutes |
Spread half the potatoes in baking dish |
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