Well the very unpromising looking Pork Shank actually turned out to be incredibly good. This recipe is certainly well within our self imposed budget and packed with flavour.
Ingredients:-
1 Pork Shank
3 Cloves of Garlic, minced
1 Onion, diced
4 Anchovies
2 Tbsp of Tomato Puree
1 Tin of chopped Tomatoes, plus a tin of water
2 Tbsp of mixed Olives
A Handful of fresh Basil, chopped. Plus some to garnish
2 Tbsp of Red Wine Vinegar
1 Tbsp of Capers
½ Tsp of Cayenne Pepper
½ Tsp of Sugar
Salt & Pepper to season
Grated Italian style Cheese to garnish
Oil to fry
Methods:-
(1) Season the Pork with Salt & Pepper.
(2) In a large pan or Dutch Over heat a little Oil over a high heat and sear the Pork on all sides.
(3) Remove and set aside.
(4) Reduce the heat and fry the Onions until softened.
(5) Add the Garlic and stir in. Cooking for a further minute.
(6) Add the Anchovies and Tomato Puree.
(7) Add the Tinned Tomatoes, Water, Olives, Cayenne Petter and Sugar.
(8) Simmer for 2 minutes.
(9) Return the pork.
(10) Cover and place in a pre-heated oven at 150c for 4 hours until the Pork is tender.
(11) Remove the Pork and shared. Discarding the bones and skin (The Foxes loved the skin!)
(12) Return the Pork and place on the hub to simmer until the sauce has thickened.
(13) Garnish with chopped Basil and Italian style Grated Cheese.
We served ours on a bed of Gluten free Spaghetti, which worked really well.
Cheats because we didn't have 4 hours to spare so Sue accelerated the cooking time – see below.... We raided the local Polish Deli and happened across some Kielbasa Jalowcowa which is a type of Polish sausage, usually served as a cold cut. It is made from cuts of lean pork seasoned with pepper, allspice, coriander, and garlic, packed into large casings, and smoked.
Ingredients:-
2 Potatoes pealed, cubed
2 Carrots sliced
¼ of a Swede pealed, cubed
½ a Celeriac pealed, cubed
1 handful of Mushrooms sliced
¼ of a white Cabbage sliced
4 Polish smoked Sausages
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
½ a tube of Tomato purée
1 Red Onion sliced
1 White Onion sliced
Seasoning:-
Mixed herbs
Paprika
Chilli flakes
Garlic salt
Black Pepper
2 cloves of Garlic minced
Method:-
(1) Parboil all the vegetables in salted water.
(2) Place the vegetables in a casserole dish and reserve the salted water.
(3) Add the Onions to the water and season with the Herbs, Garlic salt.
(4) Add the tinned Tomatoes and Tomato Purée and add the mushrooms
(5) Add the Sausage and simmer for 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
(6) Pour the sauce over the vegetables.
(7) Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour at 180c.
(8) Remove the foil for the last 20 minutes.
We served our casserole with Herby Garlic Bread and it was a real 'Winter Warmer' for a cold evening.