Butterfly, stuff, and wrap the pork loin a day ahead (click here for a tutorial). Refrigerate overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting.
Collard and Apple-Stuffed Pork Loin
2016-08-10 00:10:18
Yield: approximately 8 servings
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons rendered bacon fat or canola oil
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
- 1 (1-pound) bag washed and chopped collard greens (about 12 cups)
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 cups cored and diced Pink Lady apple (about 2 apples)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
- 1⁄4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
- 1⁄8 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 (3-pound) boneless pork loin, trimmed
- 1 pound bacon
- 6 shallots, peeled
- 5 small Gala apples, halved
- Garnish: fresh sage
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°. Place a wire rack in a large roasting pan. Set aside.
- In a large Dutch oven, heat rendered bacon fat or canola oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, approximately 6 minutes. Stir in greens, a few handfuls at a time, and cook until wilted. Add cider; cover, and cook until greens are tender, approximately 30 minutes.
- Stir in apple, 11⁄2 teaspoons salt, sage, thyme, 1⁄8 teaspoon pepper, and lemon zest. Cook, uncovered, until liquid has evaporated and apples are just tender but not mushy, approximately 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
- Butterfly and flatten pork loin. Season with remaining 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1⁄8 teaspoon pepper. Top with greens mixture, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Starting with end closest to you, tightly roll pork loin.
- Wrap bacon slices around pork, slightly overlapping slices. Using kitchen twine, tie pork in 1-inch intervals. Place pork in prepared pan.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes. Add shallot and apple, and continue baking until pork reaches an internal temperature of 130° to 135°, approximately 20 minutes more. Let stand at least 20 minutes before slicing. Garnish with sage, if desired.
Taste of the South https://tasteofthesouthmagazine.com/