Pork Roast the Old-Fashion Way (Cast Iron Dutch Oven) 🍖
Description: This timeless recipe yields a succulent pork roast with a rich gravy, perfect for serving alongside mashed potatoes or crispy French fries. Ideal for weeknights or special occasions, this dish has been a beloved favorite for over 50 years, promising unbeatable flavor and tenderness in every bite!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Serves: 4-5 servings
- Cuisine: Belgian, European
- Keywords: Meat, Pork, Weeknight, Oven, < 4 Hours
Ingredients:
- 4-5 garlic cloves
- 1 large onion
- 5 cups water
- 1 tablespoon Kitchen Bouquet
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 pork roast (boneless or bone-in)
Instructions:
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Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C), ensuring it reaches the optimal temperature for roasting your pork to perfection.
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Prepare Dutch Oven: In a sturdy cast iron Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot with a lid, melt the lard over medium-high heat. This step is crucial for creating a flavorful base for your roast.
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Season Pork: Generously season all sides of the pork roast with salt and pepper, enhancing its natural flavors and ensuring a well-seasoned final dish.
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Sear the Roast: Once the lard is hot and begins to emit a tantalizing aroma, carefully place the seasoned pork roast in the pot. Allow it to sear undisturbed for about a minute before rotating it to brown evenly on all sides.
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Add Aromatics: Surround the roast with garlic cloves and onion slices, allowing them to caramelize and infuse their aromatic flavors into the dish as the roast cooks.
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Prepare Broth: In a separate bowl, mix the Kitchen Bouquet with 2 cups of water, creating a savory broth that will further enhance the roast’s flavor profile.
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Add Broth to Pot: Pour the prepared water mixture into the pot, allowing it to come to a gentle boil around the roast, infusing it with moisture and depth of flavor.
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Roast in Oven: Cover the Dutch oven tightly with its lid and place it in the lower portion of the preheated oven. Roast the pork for approximately 1 hour for a boneless roast or 1-3/4 hours for a bone-in roast, ensuring it cooks to tender perfection.
| Roasting Times: |
|---|
| Boneless Roast: 1 hour |
| Bone-in Roast: 1-3/4 hours |
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Turn Over Halfway: Halfway through the roasting time, carefully turn the roast over, ensuring even cooking and browning on all sides.
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Rest and Prepare Gravy: Once fully cooked, remove the roast from the pot and cover it to keep it warm while you prepare the gravy. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/2 cup of water, creating a slurry to thicken the gravy.
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Thicken Gravy: Using a whisk, stir the cornstarch mixture into the flavorful pan drippings, ensuring it incorporates smoothly and thickens to your desired consistency. As you mix, break up the garlic cloves to release their savory essence into the gravy.
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Season to Taste: Bring the gravy to a gentle boil, allowing it to simmer and thicken further. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, adding more salt and pepper if desired to achieve the perfect balance of flavors.
Note: Pork roast prepared using this method is guaranteed to be tender and juicy, making it an ideal choice for serving as hot pork sandwiches. The accompanying gravy boasts a depth of flavor that elevates this dish to culinary perfection, earning it a well-deserved place in your recipe repertoire for years to come!
