RECIPE

Braised Pork Shoulder with Chimichurri

  • ACTIVE: 45 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 3 HRS 15 MIN
  • SERVINGS: 8

Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo—the guys behind the Food Network show Two Dudes Catering—have a philosophy that guides them, whether they're cooking for the X Games or for their new Los Angeles restaurant, Animal: Use a big cut of meat, preferably pork, and serve it with a killer sauce.

  • ACTIVE: 45 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 3 HRS 15 MIN
  • SERVINGS: 8
  • MAKE-AHEAD

Ingredients

  • Ingredients
    1. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    2. 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    3. 5 pounds pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into 5 equal pieces
    4. Salt and freshly ground pepper
    5. 5 garlic cloves
    6. 2 large onions, coarsely chopped
    7. 3 thyme sprigs
    8. 1 bay leaf
    9. 2 cups chicken stock
    10. Chimichurri sauce (see Note)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 275°. In a large skillet, melt the butter in the oil. Season the pork with salt and pepper and brown over high heat, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to an enameled cast-iron casserole and add the garlic, onions, thyme, bay leaf, stock and 2 cups of water; bring to a boil. Cover with foil and bake for 2 1/2 hours, until the pork is falling-apart tender. Transfer to a dish; keep warm. Strain the liquid, return to the casserole and reduce by half over moderately high heat. Season with salt and pepper, add to the pork and serve with chimichurri.

Notes

Use store-bought chimichurri or prepare Animal's excellent version. In a mortar, mash 1 chopped garlic clove with 1 seeded jalapeño. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt. Work in 1 bunch each of stemmed curly and flat-leaf parsley and 1/4 cup of chopped oregano. Stir in 3/4 cup of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar and season with 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper.