This cozy Hairy Bikers Somerset Pork is made with succulent pork shoulder, crisp apples, dry cider, and a touch of mustard. The result is a savory and tender pork dish with a rich, sweet, and tangy sauce. This recipe is perfect for a special Sunday lunch or a comforting weeknight dinner and serves six people.
Hairy Bikers Somerset Pork Ingredients
- 1.5kg boneless pork shoulder, skin scored
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 eating apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 500ml dry cider
- 250ml chicken stock
- 1 tbsp grainy mustard
- 2 fresh thyme sprigs
- Salt and black pepper
How To Make Hairy Bikers Somerset Pork
- Prepare the pork: First, preheat your oven to 160°C (140°C fan). Pat the pork shoulder skin dry with paper towels and rub it generously with salt. This will help you get a great crackling later.
- Brown the pork: Heat the vegetable oil in a large, ovenproof casserole dish or a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Place the pork skin-side down and cook for about 10-15 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and starting to crisp. Remove the pork from the dish and set it aside.
- Sauté the aromatics: In the same dish, add the sliced onions and cook over a medium heat for 5-7 minutes until they are soft and translucent. Add the sliced apples and cook for a further 5 minutes, until they begin to soften.
- Create the sauce: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the onions and apples, stirring for about a minute to cook it out. Gradually pour in the dry cider and the chicken stock, stirring continuously to make a smooth sauce. Stir in the grainy mustard and add the fresh thyme sprigs.
- Roast the pork: Return the pork to the dish, placing it skin-side up. Make sure the pork is nestled into the sauce but the skin remains uncovered. Bring the sauce to a simmer on the stovetop.
- Bake the pork: Transfer the covered dish to the preheated oven and cook for 2 to 2.5 hours. The pork should be wonderfully tender and easy to pull apart with a fork.
- Crisp the crackling: For extra crispy crackling, remove the lid for the final 30 minutes of cooking. If the crackling isn’t as crisp as you’d like, you can carefully remove the pork from the dish and place it under a hot grill for a few minutes, watching it closely to prevent it from burning.
- Serve: Let the pork rest for 10 minutes before pulling it apart and serving with the delicious apple and cider sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Dry the pork skin: For the best crackling, it is essential to pat the pork skin as dry as possible before cooking and to rub it generously with salt.
- Control the heat when browning: Don’t be afraid to cook the pork skin slowly over a medium heat. A patient approach will get you a better, more golden skin.
- Use good quality cider: The flavor of the dry cider is central to this dish. Use a good quality cider that you enjoy drinking, as it will be the base for your sauce.
- Let the pork rest: Letting the pork rest after cooking allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more moist and tender result.
What To Serve Somerset Pork
This dish is a classic centerpiece that pairs beautifully with simple sides. Serve it with creamy mashed potatoes, steamed cabbage, and roasted root vegetables like carrots and parsnips. A side of buttered green beans would also be a fantastic complement. The rich sauce can be drizzled over everything for a complete and comforting meal.
How To Store Somerset Pork Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Once cooled, store leftover Somerset Pork and its sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: This dish freezes very well. Once cooled, place the pork and sauce in a freezer-safe container. It will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating gently on the stovetop or in the oven.
Hairy Bikers Somerset Pork Nutrition Facts
- Serving size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 680 kcal
- Total Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sodium: 850mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 20g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 10g
- Protein: 45g
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use a different cut of pork? Pork shoulder is ideal for this recipe because it becomes incredibly tender after slow cooking. You could use pork loin, but it will require a shorter cooking time and will not be as tender. Pork belly would also work well but will be fattier.
- What kind of apples should I use? Eating apples like Bramley, Gala, or Granny Smith work well. You want an apple that will hold its shape slightly and not just turn to mush, but will still be soft enough to melt into the sauce.
- Is it okay to use a sweet cider? Dry cider is best as it provides a crisp, tangy flavor that balances the richness of the pork and the sweetness of the apples. Using a sweet cider could make the sauce overly sweet, but you can use it and just adjust the sugar in the recipe.
Try More Recipes:
Hairy Bikers Somerset Pork Recipe
Description
Hairy Bikers Somerset Pork is a tender and succulent pork shoulder braised in a flavorful sauce of dry cider, sweet apples, and savory onions. The result is a comforting and rich dish with a beautiful balance of flavors, all topped with a crispy pork crackling.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the pork: Preheat the oven to 160°C. Pat the pork skin dry and rub it with salt.
- Brown the pork: Brown the pork skin-side down in an ovenproof dish. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté the aromatics: Cook onions and apples in the same dish.
- Create the sauce: Stir in flour, then gradually whisk in cider, stock, mustard, and thyme.
- Roast the pork: Return pork to the dish. Bring to a simmer, then cover and bake for 2 to 2.5 hours.
- Crisp the crackling: Remove the lid for the last 30 minutes to crisp the skin.
- Serve: Let the pork rest for 10 minutes before serving with the sauce.
