Pork, Cider and Root Vegetable Ragout

This time of the year is ideal for trying your hand at a slow cooking method.   A simmering pot warms your house and feeds your soul and seems just right as darkness and cold temperatures prevail.  This stew recipe uses root vegetables, which are in abundance this time of year and, like tougher cuts of meat, often overlooked in favour of more refined produce.  Here, however, the sweetness of rustic root vegetables is the perfect complement to the slow-cooked pork and both do well gently simmered in a broth of beer and apple cider.

The ragout can be made ahead and frozen or refrigerated, then reheated just before serving. Served with crusty dark bread or atop creamy polenta (we paired it with oven baked polenta), it’s a great winter warmer.

Pork, Cider and Root Vegetable Ragout

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 package pork tenderloin (2 tenderloins), cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, mined, about 1 ½ teaspoons
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup apple cider
1 cup dark beer
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
5 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat butter and oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pork pieces and onion and sauté until the pork is browned on all sides and onion is wilted. Add garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Stir in apple cider, beer and mustard and then add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cover and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour. Remove cover, stir, and bake for 45 minutes longer, until vegetables and pork are tender.

Comments

[Kayte]

Oh, I am making this one for sure, Jerry, this looks really good and we love pork tenderloins. Crockpot Chefing is a good deal, coming home to dinner when one has been working all day seems like a luxury if you have the right recipe. This looks like one of those right recipes.

[JDeQ]

Now that Paul is done work he'll be doing more of the cooking. I am looking forward to coming home to dinner on the table. :-)