Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Glazed Pork Loin with Pineapple-Scallion Chutney

This twist on the classic pairing of pineapple and ham uses the fruit in a delicious maple-infused glaze and a sweet-spicy chutney for roast pork. If possible, use grade B maple syrup in the glaze; it has a more robust flavor than lighter grades.
  • 2 large cloves garlic
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
  • 1-1/2 tsp. toasted coriander seeds, ground
  • 1 3-lb. boneless pork loin roast
  • 1 medium fresh pineapple (about 3-1/2 lb.)
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup, preferably grade B
  • 2 Tbs. sherry vinegar
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • Pinch ground cayenne
  • 1 large scallion, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
  • 3 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro

Peel and coarsely chop the garlic. Sprinkle it with a generous pinch of salt and mash it to a paste with the side of a chef’s knife. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the oil, lemon zest, coriander, and 1 Tbs. salt.

Put the pork on a large rimmed baking sheet, pat dry with paper towels, and rub all over with the salt mixture. Let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Roast the pork until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 130°F, about 50 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel and core the pineapple. Cut half into small dice and roughly chop the other half. Purée the roughly chopped pineapple in a blender, then strain it through a fine strainer, pressing on the solids with a spoon, to yield about 3/4 cup juice. In a small saucepan, combine the strained pineapple juice and maple syrup and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/3 cup, 12 to 15 minutes. The liquid will become very bubbly as it reduces; lower the heat as necessary.

Set aside all but 2 Tbs. of the reduced liquid (this will be your glaze). Add the vinegar, shallot, cayenne, and a pinch of salt to the 2 Tbs. liquid remaining in the saucepan and cook over medium heat just until the shallot begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the diced pineapple and scallion whites and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the pineapple softens and releases some of its juice, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.

When the pork reaches 130°F, brush it with some of the glaze and continue to roast, brushing with more glaze every 5 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the roast reads 145°F, about 20 minutes more. Let rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.

When ready to serve, stir the scallion greens and cilantro into the chutney. Slice the pork into 1/2-inch-thick rounds and serve with the chutney.

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