Glazed Pork Loin with Pineapple-Scallion Chutney
by Dabney Gough
This twist on the classic pairing of pineapple and ham uses the fruit in a delicious maple-infused glaze and a sweet-spicy chutney for roast pork. If possible, use grade B maple syrup in the glaze; it has a more robust flavor than lighter grades.
Serves 6-8
2 large cloves garlic
Kosher salt
1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
1-1/2 tsp. toasted coriander seeds, ground
1 3-lb. boneless pork loin roast
1 medium fresh pineapple (about 3-1/2 lb.)
1/4 cup maple syrup, preferably grade B
2 Tbs. sherry vinegar
1 large shallot, minced
Pinch ground cayenne
1 large scallion, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
3 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
Peel and coarsely chop the garlic. Sprinkle it with a generous pinch of salt and mash it to a paste with the side of a chef’s knife. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the oil, lemon zest, coriander, and 1 Tbs. salt.
Put the pork on a large rimmed baking sheet, pat dry with paper towels, and rub all over with the salt mixture. Let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours.
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Roast the pork until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 130°F, about 50 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel and core the pineapple. Cut half into small dice and roughly chop the other half. Purée the roughly chopped pineapple in a blender, then strain it through a fine strainer, pressing on the solids with a spoon, to yield about 3/4 cup juice. In a small saucepan, combine the strained pineapple juice and maple syrup and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/3 cup, 12 to 15 minutes. The liquid will become very bubbly as it reduces; lower the heat as necessary.
Set aside all but 2 Tbs. of the reduced liquid (this will be your glaze). Add the vinegar, shallot, cayenne, and a pinch of salt to the 2 Tbs. liquid remaining in the saucepan and cook over medium heat just until the shallot begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the diced pineapple and scallion whites and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the pineapple softens and releases some of its juice, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
When the pork reaches 130°F, brush it with some of the glaze and continue to roast, brushing with more glaze every 5 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the roast reads 145°F, about 20 minutes more. Let rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.
When ready to serve, stir the scallion greens and cilantro into the chutney. Slice the pork into 1/2-inch-thick rounds and serve with the chutney.
nutrition information (per serving):
Calories
(kcal):
290;
Fat
(g):
9;
Fat Calories
(kcal):
90;
Saturated Fat
(g):
3;
Protein
(g):
32;
Monounsaturated Fat
(g):
5;
Carbohydrates
(g):
18;
Polyunsaturated Fat
(g):
0.5;
Sodium
(mg):
470;
Cholesterol
(mg):
80;
Fiber
(g):
1;
photo: Scott Phillips
From Fine Cooking 115
, pp. 51-56
December 29, 2011
