CHINESE BRAISED PORK SHOULDER RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 275°.
• For the sauce--In a bowl, mix the garlic, soy sauce, wine, ginger, 5 spice powder, cayenne, apricot preserves, marmalade, hoisin and broth--set aside.
• Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a skillet or dutch oven with a lid, that is also oven-safe.
• Saute the pork until browned, then remove to a plate.
• Add the last tbsp of oil to the pan, and saute the shallots for about 2 minutes.
• Add the meat back to the pan, then stir in the sauce mixture.
• Bring to a simmer, cover, and place the pan in the oven.
• Bake for 1- 1 1/2 hours, until meat is tender and falls apart easily.
• Serve over white rice, if desired.

Steps:

• Cut pork into eight 2x3-inch pieces.
• Heat oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven over high heat. In 2 batches, sear pork, fat sides first, until light golden, 30 to 60 seconds per side. Transfer to a plate. Pour out all but 1 to 2 tablespoons of the drippings.
• Add 1/3 cup sugar to pot; melt, stirring if needed, over medium-high heat. Cook until a light caramel color, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium, then return pork to pot, turning pieces to coat. When sugar darkens to an orange color, after about 1 minute, add water; stir to loosen any sugar stuck to the bottom.
• Add green onions, garlic, sherry, soy sauce, molasses, star anise, and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. If needed, add up to 1/2 cup additional water to nearly cover pork. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, covered, turning occasionally, until a knife inserted 1/4 inch into the fat layer meets little resistance, about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• Transfer pork to a plate with a slotted spoon; loosely cover. Skim fat and drain solids from cooking liquid. Return 4 cups liquid to pot and bring to a boil; simmer over medium-high heat until reduced to about 1 cup, about 30 minutes. Sauce will thicken more as it cools.
• Slice pork into twenty-four 1/2-inch-thick pieces. Working in batches, warm pork with half the sauce in a large nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Turn pork frequently to coat and, if desired, let sear slightly. Garnish with cucumber slices and sliced green onion.