CAST IRON POT ROAST RECIPES

Steps:

• Method: In a braising pan or large heavy enameled cast iron casserole, brown the roast on all sides in the oil until the outside is slightly charred and richly colored. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the remaining fat.
• Salt and pepper the meat to taste, and sprinkle with an herb. Thyme is a favorite because it has a pungency that is most effective with beef, but you could use rosemary or summer savory, which would give an entirely different quality. Add the bay leaf, cinnamon, onions, garlic, parsley, and leek. Pour in the liquid of your choice and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pot, and either simmer on top of the stove over very low heat, allowing 30 to 35 minutes per pound, or cook in a 325°F oven, allowing 35 minutes a pound, about 3 hours, until the meat is quite tender. Add more liquid if needed.
• Remove the meat to a hot platter to rest for about 15 minutes and skim the fat from the pan juices. If you want more gravy, strain the liquid, pour additional wine or beef stock into the pan and bring to a boil. Thicken the juices with little balls of butter and flour, kneaded together. Let it reduce until it lightly coats a spoon

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
• Melt lard in cast iron dutch oven, or very heavy bottomed pot with lid, over medium high heat.
• Salt and pepper all sides of pork roast.
• When lard just begins to give off smell of being hot, place roast in pot.
• DO NOT move it for a minute or so, then rotate it to brown all sides.
• Lay garlic cloves and onion slices around the roast and stir to brown them a bit.
• Mix Kitchen Bouquet into the 2 cups of water.
• Pour in the water mixture.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover tightly and place in lower portion of the oven.
• Roast 1 hour for boneless roast; 1-3/4 hours for bone-in roast.
• Half-way through roasting time turn the roast over.
• Remove roast from pan and cover to keep hot.
• Mix 2 Tablespoons cornstarch into 1/2 cup water.
• Using a whisk, stir the cornstarch mixture into the pot drippings, breaking up the garlic cloves as you mix.
• Bring to a boil, taste and season if needed with salt and/or pepper.
• NOTE: Pork roast made this way is ALWAYS tender.
• It makes wonderful hot pork sandwiches!
• The gravy is out of this world!