A stew of pork, bacon & mushrooms with cream, cider & parsley

A stew of pork, bacon & mushrooms with cream, cider & parsley

Autumn

I first served this stew aboard a fishing boat out on a big sea on a bloody cold day. I’d cooked it the day before (always a good idea with a stew) and reheated it over a tiny camp stove in the wheel-house. I remember the delicious smells carrying out to the hungry fishermen on deck. Despite the swell, and the rock and roll, I managed to bring out piping hot bowlfuls, and for a moment all you could hear was the wind and the sea. We ended up catching quite a few fish that day, including the unusual looking garfish, which interestingly, has otherworldly green bones.

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • dash of extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 piece of cured pork belly (streaky bacon; about 350g/12oz), cut into 4–5cm (1½–2in) cubes
  • 500g (1lb 2oz) fresh pork belly, cut into 4–5cm (1½–2in) cubes
  • 1 large or 2 small leeks, halved and sliced
  • 2 or 3 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 4–6 bay leaves
  • 2–3 rosemary sprigs
  • 2–3 thyme sprigs
  • 2 tablespoons plain flour
  • 450ml (16fl oz) cider
  • 450ml (16fl oz) pork, chicken or vegetable stock
  • knob of butter
  • 250g (9oz) wild or cultivated mushrooms, cut into large pieces
  • 200ml (7fl oz) double cream
  • small bunch of parsley
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Heat the oven to 150°C/300°F/gas mark 2.

Start by heating the oil in a large heavy-based casserole set over a medium–high heat. Add the cured and fresh pork belly pieces and cook the meat for 6–8 minutes, or until well browned on all sides. Lift the pieces out of the pan using a spatula or slotted spoon and set aside. Add the leeks to the same pan, along with the sliced garlic, all the herbs and a little seasoning. Sweat the leeks gently for about 10 minutes, then return the browned pork pieces to the pan, sprinkle over the plain flour and stir well. Cook for a further 3–4 minutes, then pour in the cider and stock and bring to a simmer. Stir well, then place a tight-fitting lid on the pan and place in the oven for 2 hours, until the pork is fork tender.

Meanwhile, set a large frying pan over a high heat and add the butter. When it’s bubbling, add the mushrooms, season them lightly and sauté, turning them regularly, for 6–8 minutes, until cooked through. Set aside.

When the casserole is ready, remove it from the oven and add the fried mushrooms and double cream. Stir well, then return the pan to the oven for 15 minutes without its lid.

Stir in the chopped parsley and check the seasoning before bringing to the table with a sharply dressed green salad and some good bread.

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