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Normandy style Pork & Cider Casserole

Normandy style Pork & Cider Casserole

We had a very pleasant change of scenery. Not the Indian sub-continent this time, but Normandy…..

Ingredients:-

500g of Pork thigh, cubed
8 Shallots, peeled but left whole
100g of Bacon Largons
1 Onion, diced
1 Celery Stick, chopped
300ml of Cider
300ml of Chicken Stock
1 Tbsp of Cornflour
50g of Yogurt
1 ½ Tsp of Dijon Mustard
100g Baby Mushroom, whole
2 Tbsp of Butter / Margarine to Fry
2 Tbsp of Oil to fry
A handful of fresh Basil
Salt & Pepper to season

Method:-

(1) Heat a little Oil in a pan and add the cubed Pork.
(2) Fry to brown on all sides.
(3) Transfer to a plate to rest.
(4) Add the whole Shallots and Mushrooms and cook for a further 2 to 3 minutes.
(5) Transfer to the plate with your resting Pork.
(6) In a large flameproof casserole add a little Oil and fry the Bacon until crisp.
(7) Remove and set aside.
(8) Add the Onions and Celery to the Casserole with the Butter and fry until softened.
(9) Add the Pork, Cider and Stock and simmer with the bid slightly open for an hour.
(10) Add the Shallots and Mushrooms and cook for a further hour.
(11) Mix the Cornflour with a Tbsp of Cider and add to the Casserole.
(12) Cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring to thicken the sauce.
(13) Stir in the Yogurt, Mustard and Basil – adding a splash more Cider if the sauce seems a bit thick.
(14) Add Salt & Pepper to taste.
(15) Serve and garnish with fresh chopped Basil.

We served ours in a ring of Wholegrain Mustard mashed Potatoes with tender stem Broccoli.

Apart from this being a really tasty meal, there was the added satisfaction of using out own home cured Bacon and home butchered Pork from the leg we bought on a yellow sticker deal a while ago!

 

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Urad Dal 'Ana la 'Aerif

I don’t speak Arabic, so this is our Pigeon Arabic title. Something like “ Split Black Lentil who-knows-what! “ It can easily be made Vegetarian, if you leave off the Cheese and boiled Egg Vegan too.

Ingredients:-

Urad Dal (100g per person)
Garlic infused Stock (We had this loitering in the fried door, but a Veggie stock cube and some Garlic Powder would have worked equally well)
1 large Onion, Chopped
Cumin Seeds
Mustard powder
Dried Coriander
Dried Basil
Chilli Flakes
A Carrot, batoned
Peas (Frozen are cool!)
2 large Mushrooms, sliced
Pickles Chilli Cauliflower ( Our own Lacto ferment - But shop bought pickled Cauliflower is fine )
Pickled Red Cabbage ( Again this was our own Lacto ferment - Shop bought is fine )
Oil to fry
Salt & Pepper

Optional Extras:-

2 Boiled Eggs, sliced
Crumbled Blue Cheese

Method:-

(1) Add the Urad Dal to a large pan and add 1l of Garlic infused Stock.
(2) Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and allow to simmer for ¾ of an hour.
(3) Check regularly and add more water when required. The Split Lentils are thirsty little creatures.
(4) Once the Urad Dal has swollen and softened drain and set aside.
(5) In a large frying pan fry the Onions gently until translecent.
(6) Add and fry the Carrots.
(7) Add the Mushrooms last and gently fry.
(8) stir in the Urad Dal and other ingredients excluding the Cheese and Egg.
(9) Plate and dress with the crumbled Cheese and Egg if you are using them.

We have really taken to Urad Dal. It has a very heart texture, is very cheap and takes on flavours really well.
 

 

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