Braised Pork Shoulder

237 Ratings
  • 5 63
  • 4 53
  • 3 76
  • 2 30
  • 1 15

Make an irresistible dinner (or three!) with a slow-cooked pork shoulder that has the perfect flavors for a cool evening. Use this recipe to make Open-Faced Porchetta Sandwich with Caramelized Apples or Ribbon Pasta With Pork Ragu and Fresh Sage. Use the pork skin to make Roasted Baby Potatoes with Cracklings and Chives.

Martha Stewart Living, October 2010

Gallery

Read the full recipe after the video.

Recipe Summary

prep:
50 mins
total:
4 hrs 50 mins
Servings:
8
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Ingredients

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Crisp pancetta in a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat, until fat is rendered, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon.

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  • Add onions to Dutch oven. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 25 minutes. Transfer to plate using slotted spoon.

  • Season pork with salt and pepper. Add oil to Dutch oven, and sear pork, fat side down, until golden, about 5 minutes. Flip, and repeat.

  • Add garlic and spices to pot. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ale, stock, pancetta, and onions; bring to a simmer. Transfer to oven, and braise pork, covered, basting every hour, until meat is falling off the bone, about 4 hours. Shred meat (just what you're using) using 2 forks, and drizzle with warm skimmed jus.

Cook's Notes

Serving idea: Pile shredded pork on creamy polenta. Drizzle with jus.

Cook's Notes

For leftovers: Cut away and reserve skin if making potatoes. Refrigerate pork in jus with onions overnight; skim fat from top (reserve if making potatoes). Reheat pork in oven, and shred just before using. You'll need shredded meat and skimmed jus for all three recipes.

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Reviews (12)

237 Ratings
  • 5 63
  • 4 53
  • 3 76
  • 2 30
  • 1 15
Martha Stewart Member
04/29/2018
Easy to make and my dinner guests are always impressed.
Martha Stewart Member
03/19/2018
I only had 1 1/2 lbs of pork and two hours, so I cubed it, halved the recipe and it was awesome! Served it with instant pot mushroom risotto. Stunning
Martha Stewart Member
01/13/2012
OMG! I think this is my new favorite dish. Used a boneless shoulder and bacon instead of pancetta, both worked just fine. I'm not a big fan of fennel but it really is perfect in this dish. I served over mashed potatoes. Kids loved it. Cooked in about 3 1/2 hours.
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Martha Stewart Member
11/19/2011
Made it for a 40th birthday dinner party. It was easy and amazing! People were raving about it! It allowed me to enjoy my guests because there was little to do once it was put in the oven. Great meal!
Martha Stewart Member
02/14/2011
5-Star! Made it with Savory grilled Polenta (ala Alton Brown, my other favorite). Was a hit with the family (Put a pic on FB)
Martha Stewart Member
01/31/2011
I have been making this roast for years. the thing i do differently is to cover the pork in the toasted crushed seeds along with crused red pepper and let it sit wrapped in the fridge overnight then down to room temp. before cooking. leftovers are great with bbq sauce, slaw pickles on white bread. goodness gracious!
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Martha Stewart Member
01/19/2011
WINNER!! This recipe is so very delicious!! I've made it a few times already! Leftovers are great in a million different ways, i.e...in pasta, tacos, mac n cheese etc....awesome, awesome!!
Martha Stewart Member
12/12/2010
We used the leftovers a lot of ways. It makes great prok tacos!
Martha Stewart Member
12/12/2010
My husband said it tasted the way he remembered pork tasting when he was a child (and that's a big compliment). If you can't find pancetta, I found that salt pork will work in a pinch.
Martha Stewart Member
12/11/2010
Fantastic braising recipe!! Rather than skim the jus while it is still hot, I serve as is (the fat is sooo tasty!), then store the jus in the refrigerator over night and skim the next day when it has risen to the top and hardened.
Martha Stewart Member
11/21/2010
Skim it from the broth, don't de-fat prior to cooking. You will lose flavor that way.
Martha Stewart Member
11/17/2010
Glad I used pancetta instead of bacon, I think bacon would be too strong. We served this with Cheddar polenta and roased broccoli, wonderful Fall dinner. Next time I think I will remove the fat from the pork before braising, there was a lot of fat in the broth (delicious but probably not good for us:)
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