Braised Pork Shoulder

Name: Braised Pork Shoulder
Prep time: 50 min
Total time: 4 h 50 min
Ingredients: 6 ounces pancetta, finely chopped; 2 medium onions, thinly sliced; 1 bone-in pork shoulder (6 to 7 pounds), skin on (if making potatoes), room temperature; Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 head garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons fennel seeds, toasted and ground; 1 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds; 2 cups Belgian-style ale; 1 cup homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock

237 Ratings
12 Reviews

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

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Read the full recipe after the video.

Recipe Summary

prep:

50 mins

total:

4 hrs 50 mins

Servings:

Directions

Step 1
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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Step 2
Add onions to Dutch oven. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 25 minutes. Transfer to plate using slotted spoon.
Step 3
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.
Step 4
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.

Reviews (12)

237 Ratings

5 star values: 63
4 star values: 53
3 star values: 76
2 star values: 30
1 star values: 15

Anonymous

04/29/2018

Easy to make and my dinner guests are always impressed.

Anonymous

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

Anonymous

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.

Anonymous

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!

Anonymous

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)

Anonymous

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!

Anonymous

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!!

Anonymous

12/12/2010

We used the leftovers a lot of ways. It makes great prok tacos!

Anonymous

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.

Anonymous

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.

Anonymous

11/21/2010

Skim it from the broth, don't de-fat prior to cooking. You will lose flavor that way.

Anonymous

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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Braised Pork Shoulder

Gallery

Recipe Summary

Ingredients

Directions

Cook's Notes

Cook's Notes

Reviews (12)

All Reviews for Braised Pork Shoulder

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Braised Pork Shoulder

Gallery

Recipe Summary

Ingredients

Directions

Cook's Notes

Cook's Notes

Reviews (12)

All Reviews for Braised Pork Shoulder