I’m a big fan of Smithfield All Natural Fresh Pork. I’ve used their products many times before – some of which also made it to the blog, like this five spice peach and pork skillet, habanero and peach bbq pork ribs, delicious tequila braised pork carnitas (seriously yum!) and our favorite Sri Lankan pork curry! While I love using pork chops and pork belly cuts, I also always have great fun making flavorful pork roast for dinner and one of my favorite cuts for a pork roast is Smithfield All Natural Fresh Pork Shoulder Picnic Cut. Knowing that it’s almost guaranteed to be a meal that Mr K would love, it’s also a very safe bet for me! With his birthday and the holidays just around the corner, I made one of his favorites earlier this week – Spiced Slow Braised Pork Roast with Spiced Pear and Apple Sauce! Pork and apple sauce – that’s a classic combination, for a reason. This meal is all about that bass flavor!
About this slow braised pork recipe
This slow braised pork is braised at a low temperature and roasted with apples and pear cider with plenty of herbs and spices. This makes the pork incredibly flavorful and melt-in-your-mouth tender. There’s only 30 minutes of active time and then your oven does the rest of the work. You can serve it with a simple side salad, or a plate of steamed or roasted vegetables (which can be roasted in the oven at the same time as the pork!). If you like your pork medium rare, you should cook it to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (followed by a three-minute rest). If you like your pork a little more done, cook to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. For this recipe however, it’s important to cook the pork until it reaches 170°F. Maintaining the pork at this temp. (with surrounding moisture) helps break down the fat and connective tissue, making the meat deliciously moist and “fall off the bone” tender. The pear cider, apples and milk in the braising liquid help the pork shoulder cut reach that perfect level of moistness, while the final roasting period caramelizes the meat from the outside while keeping it sliceable (and not mushy). The braising liquid also forms a beautiful gravy that complements the pork and any side that you may want to serve it with. It’s delicious over mashed potatoes and/or roasted vegetables. This slow braised pork roast is everything we love! 🙂 A little spicy, a little sweet, a little fruity. Plus, there were plenty of leftovers the next day, we made the best pork fried rice for lunch too!
Recipe tips
If you can’t find pear cider, simply use apple cider or pear juice instead. I love the flavor of both fruits coming through in the gravy. If you use Pink Lady or Gala apples, they will add to the sweetness. If you use Granny Smith apples on the other hand, they will add a touch of sourness to the gravy. I would definitely recommend investing in a meat thermometer, if you don’t already have one. It makes things a whole lot easier. It’s honestly the best kitchen gadget that I’ve got and I use it daily. It makes cooking roasts and steaks so much easier. It takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes for a 2.5 lb pork shoulder to reach an internal temp. of 180°F, but the exact time can vary with different ovens and different cuts of meat because of the thickness and amount of fat etc. The meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of it. Just leave it in the oven to roast and set the timer for the required internal temperature. Having said that, this is also a very forgiving recipe too. I braise this cut for about an extra 45 minutes to let the fat melt away and make the pork beautifully moist. It’s a special occasion dinner for us, but without any of the work involved. PLUS, there’s only 1 dish involved (2 if you make roasted veggies as a side), so there’s very little clean-up afterwards too. It’s an unbelievably flavorful dinner, for just 30 minutes of prep time. In the words of Michael Scott – that’s a win-win-win for all of us. It’s one of our favorite easy dinner recipes!
More roast recipes you’ll love
Sous vide roast beef (sous vide chuck roast) Oven roasted turkey breast Slow roasted turkey roll Sous vide turkey breast Slow roasted salmon Miso honey roast lamb Thai green curry roast chicken
