Pork Roast with Winter Fruits and Port Sauce
Inside this beautiful pork roast is a sweet and savory fruit surprise: apricots, prunes, and apples. A coat of bacon keeps the meat moist as it cooks. Stuff and wrap the pork a day ahead to let the flavors marinate. The port sauce not only provides a lovely glaze for the meat but is also a great topper for side dishes like mashed potatoes and green beans.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients
FOR STUFFING
FOR ROAST AND SAUCE
Preparation
MAKE STUFFING
Step 1
Simmer the apricots, prunes, and wine in a small heavy saucepan, covered, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand 10 minutes.
Step 2
Cook the onion and shallot in the butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the apple and salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until apple is just tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the apricot mixture and cool.
STUFF AND ROAST PORK
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 500°F, with the rack in the middle.
Step 4
Make a pocket in the center of the roast by cutting a horizontal 1 1/2-inch-wide slit into one end with a long thin knife and repeating from the opposite end so a pocket runs all the way through. Make a vertical cut through the center (forming a cross) to widen the pocket. Push about 1 cup stuffing into the pocket using a long-handled wooden spoon (you may need to stuff from both sides if roast is long). Reserve the remaining stuffing for the sauce.
Step 5
Season the roast with salt and pepper and put in a large flameproof roasting pan. Wrap with the bacon between rib bones, tucking the ends under the roast. Roast the pork 20 minutes, then reduce the oven to 325°F and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into the center (do not touch bone or stuffing) registers 155°F, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours total.
Step 6
Transfer the roast to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 15 to 20 minutes. (Temperature of the meat will rise to about 160°F; meat will be slightly pink.)
MAKE SAUCE
Step 7
Skim the fat from the pan drippings and reserve 1 1/2 tablespoons fat. Straddle the pan across 2 burners and add port to drippings, then deglaze by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up browned bits, 1 minute. Strain the pan juices through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding the solids.
Step 8
Cook the shallot in the reserved fat in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the pan juices, 1 1/4 cups water, and any reserved fruit stuffing and bring to a simmer. Whisk together the arrowroot and remaining 1/4 cup water until smooth, then whisk into the sauce along with any juices from the cutting board. Simmer the sauce, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 9
Carve the roast into chops by cutting between ribs, then serve with the sauce.
DO AHEAD
Step 10
The STUFFING can be made 2 days ahead and chilled. The UNCOOKED ROAST improves in flavor if stuffed, seasoned, and wrapped with bacon 1 day ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before roasting.
