STICKY PORK RECIPES

1. This method of cooking pork stops it drying out and keeps it juicy and soft. You also end up with a wonderful rich sticky sauce!
2. Preheat your oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6. Heat an appropriately sized casserole-type pan, add a lug of olive oil and sweat the onions and garlic gently until soft. Roll the pork in the seasoning and thyme leaves. Push the onions to one side of the pan, add a knob of butter and brown the pork lightly all over.
3. Stir the quartered figs into the onions, pour one glass of Marsala over the meat and drop in the rest of the butter. Tear a piece of greaseproof paper big enough to cover the pork comfortably, scrunch it up with your hands and run it under the cold tap. Unravel it and tuck it in the pot over the pork, figs and onions. This will help the pork steam as well as roast and keep it really moist and juicy.
4. Place in the hot oven. After 20 minutes, lift off the paper, turn the pork in the juices and add the other glass of Marsala. Replace the paper and cook for 30 to 40 minutes more. Check the pork is cooked, remove to a plate and allow it to rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
5. While the meat is resting, finish the sauce by skimming any fat off the top, adding the chicken stock and simmering for 10 minutes. Check the seasoning and add the crème fraîche if using. Slice the pork as thinly as you want and serve with the delicious sauce.

To make the marinade, measure all the ingredients into a dish and mix well.

Trim any sinew from the fillet and discard. Sit the fillet in the marinade, season with salt and black pepper and turn to coat until all the fillet is covered. Leave to marinate for a few hours in the fridge.

Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/Gas 7 and line a small roasting tin with non-stick baking paper.

Removed the fillet from the marinade (reserving the marinade to use later) and sit it in the roasting tin. Roast in the oven for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.

Remove the fillet from the roasting tin and set aside on a board to rest. Cover with foil and leave for 5 minutes before carving.

Place the reserved marinade in a small saucepan and place over a medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.

Carve the pork into slices and arrange on a platter. Pour the hot marinade over the top and scatter with the spring onions, red chilli and coriander. Serve with rice or noodles.

Mary’s tips:

Can be marinated up to 8 hours ahead. if serving cold can be roasted up to 4 hours ahead.

Freezes well raw in the marinade.

1. First, make the marinade. Peel and chop the onions and garlic.
2. Heat a splash of oil in a pan over a high heat, then cook the onion and garlic for 10 minutes, or until softened and starting to colour.
3. Meanwhile, soak the chipotle and ancho chillies in hot water. Pick the coriander leaves and set aside, then finely chop the stalks.
4. Drain and chop the chillies, then add to the pan with the coriander stalks, cumin, paprika and thyme. Cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Stir in the vinegar, tomato purée, brown sugar, orange zest and juice, a pinch of sea salt and black pepper and 400ml of boiling water.
6. Bring back to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, or until glossy and thick.
7. Allow the mixture to cool, remove the thyme stalks, then blitz in a food processor until smooth.
8. Place the pork in a snug-fitting roasting tray and pour the marinade over the top, submerging the pork. Marinate for 4 hours or preferably overnight.
9. Preheat the oven to 220°C/450°F/gas 7.
10. Remove the pork from the marinade, brushing off any excess, and transfer the mixture to a saucepan for later. Return the pork to the roasting dish and roast in the oven for 8 minutes, so it forms a lovely gnarly crust.
11. Reduce the oven to 160°C/325°F/gas 2–3 and cook for 5 to 7 more minutes, or until the pork is tender and slightly pink in the middle.
12. Cover the pork with tinfoil and set aside to rest for 10 minutes.
13. Put the pan of marinade on the hob, adding in any juices from the pork. Let the mixture reduce over a medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until sticky and delicious. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil for a glossy sauce.
14. To make the rainbow salad, soak the corn for 10 minutes, then drain and cook in a pan of unsalted boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove and leave to cool.
15. Finely shred and place the cabbage in a bowl with the vinegar and a pinch of salt, then scrunch it all together.
16. Cut the cooled corn kernels from the husk, thinly slice the radishes, then peel the carrots into ribbons with a speed-peeler. Cut the lettuce into wedges. Add the veg to the cabbage mixture and toss well.
17. Make the avocado salsa by scooping out and mashing the avocado flesh. Finely chop the chilli (deseed if you like) and spring onions, then roughly chop the reserved coriander leaves.
18. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl with the lime zest and juice and enough oil to get a texture you like.
19. Warm the tortillas in a dry frying pan or in a foil parcel in the oven at 170°C/340°F/gas 3 for 6 to 7 minutes.
20. Slice the pork thinly, pile on a platter and drizzle over any juices. Serve with the warm tortillas, rainbow salad, salsa, reduced sauce and lime wedges.