Description
Pork and apricot casserole brings together sweet and savory elements in a way that makes the dish both unexpected and familiar.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 600 grams (21 ounces) pork shoulder or loin steak, cut into approximately 3 cm cubes
Fruits and Vegetables:
- 150 grams (5.3 ounces) no-soak apricots
- 1 onion, chopped
Cooking Ingredients:
- 50 grams (1.8 ounces) butter
- 40 grams (1.4 ounces) plain flour
- 600 milliliters (20.3 fluid ounces) chicken stock
- 600 milliliters (20.3 fluid ounces) dry cider
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Set oven temperature to 180°C / 350°F for a consistent, gentle cooking environment.
- Generously coat pork pieces with seasoned salt and cracked black pepper to enhance flavor profile.
- Heat butter in a flameproof casserole dish, creating a golden sear on pork surfaces for rich caramelization.
- Incorporate finely chopped onions, sautéing for 5 minutes until translucent and aromatic.
- Gently fold sweet, plump apricots into the meat mixture, distributing evenly throughout the dish.
- Dust the ingredients with flour, stirring continuously for 2 minutes to create a thickening base.
- Pour cider and stock into the casserole, whisking thoroughly to blend all components seamlessly.
- Cover with a tight-fitting lid and bake for 1½ hours, until the pork is tender.
- Present the casserole alongside fluffy rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or a crusty artisan bread to soak up the delectable sauce.
Notes
- Choose fatty pork cuts like shoulder or belly for maximum tenderness and rich flavor that melts in your mouth during slow cooking.
- Opt for fresh, ripe apricots when in season, or use high-quality dried apricots to add natural sweetness and depth to the casserole.
- For a gluten-free version, replace wheat flour with cornstarch or alternative gluten-free flour blends to maintain the sauce’s thickness.
- Consider adding herbs like thyme or rosemary during cooking to enhance the aromatic profile and complement the pork’s richness.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 112 hours 7 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 455 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg