ASSORTED PORK CHOPS RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Rub the onion halves all over with 2 teaspoons vegetable oil and place cut-side up on a small foil-lined baking sheet. Broil until completely charred on top, about 12 minutes; set aside. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook, turning, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add 3/4 cup water, the soy sauce, mirin, 2 scallions, one-quarter of the ginger and 3 smashed garlic cloves. Bring to a boil, cover and transfer to the oven. Cook, turning the pork every hour, until tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Transfer the pork to a plate or cutting board. Skim off the fat from the cooking liquid, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl; set aside.
• Meanwhile, make the stock: Bring 10 cups cold water, the chicken wings and bacon to a boil in a large pot. Boil vigorously for 3 minutes, then skim off any foam and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer; cook 1 hour. Add the broiled onion, dried shiitakes, remaining ginger, 4 scallions and 4 smashed garlic cloves. Simmer 1 more hour, skimming occasionally as needed. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve into another pot; you should have about 8 cups (add more water if necessary). Stir in the strained pork cooking liquid; season with salt. Keep hot over low to medium heat.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Gently lower the eggs into the water and adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook 7 minutes for soft-boiled or 10 minutes for medium-boiled, then drain and run the eggs under cold water to stop the cooking. Peel the eggs and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook as the label directs. Drain well.
• Thickly slice the pork. Carefully halve the eggs lengthwise. Divide the 3 minced garlic cloves and the noodles among bowls. Ladle the hot stock into each bowl. Top with the sliced pork, an egg half and assorted toppings.

Steps:

• Break the stems off the chiles de arbol and ancho chiles and shake out as many seeds as possible. Put the chiles in a bowl and cover with boiling water; weigh down the chiles with a plate to keep them submerged and soak until soft, about 30 minutes. Transfer the chiles and 1 1/2 cups of the soaking liquid to a blender. Add the smashed garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt and blend until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pushing the sauce through with a rubber spatula; discard the solids. Rub the pork all over with the cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt; set aside. Heat the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and cook 2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium high. Push the onion and garlic to one side of the pot; add the pork to the other side and sear, turning, until lightly browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cups water, the chicken broth, oregano, bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of the chile sauce (depending on your taste). Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Partially cover and cook, turning the pork a few times, until tender, about 3 hours. Stir in the hominy and continue to simmer, uncovered, until the pork starts falling apart, about 1 more hour. Remove the bay leaf. Transfer the pork to a cutting board; roughly chop and return to the pot. Add some water or broth if the posole is too thick. Season with salt. Serve with assorted toppings and the remaining chile sauce. Photograph by Con Poulos