Pork Loin with Morel Stuffing
This is an elegant entrée that goes wonderfully with fresh
steamed vegetables and, for something delicious and
different, a side dish of orzo.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces small dried
Morels (about 1 1/2
cups)
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons extra virgin
olive oil
1/2 cup chopped shallot
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
one 3 1/2 pound center cut boneless pork loin (about 3
1/2 inches thick)
2 tablespoons lime
juice
2 cups rich veal demi-glace
Preparation:
Place the boiling water in a mixing bowl and add the
dried morels. Let them soak for about 30 minutes.
Transfer the mushrooms to paper towels using a slotted
spoon. Pour the mushroom soaking liquid through a sieve
lined with a coffee filter or a paper towel into a
saucepan. Simmer until reduced to about 1/3 cup. This
should take about ten minutes.
Add a third of the morels
and reserve. Finely chop the remaining mushrooms.
Preheat the oven to 375 F.
Use a large skillet to heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil
over medium high heat. Sauté the shallots and garlic
until they are soft. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and
stir in the chopped mushrooms, bread crumbs, parsley,
and salt and pepper to taste. Allow the stuffing to cool
to room temperature before proceeding.
To make a hole lengthwise through the center of the pork
loin, use a long, thin, sharp knife. Beginning at one
end, work the knife into the loin and head toward the
center of the loin. When you reach the middle, repeat
the procedure starting at the other end of the loin. The
hole should run lengthwise all the way through the
middle of the loin. Using a wooden spoon, open up the
incision to create a 1 1/2 inch opening. Working from
both ends of the loin, pack the stuffing into the
opening, pushing toward the center. Season the outside
of the loin with salt and pepper to taste.
Use a skillet to heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of
oil over high heat until it's just about hot enough to
smoke. Brown the loin on all sides.
Transfer to a
flameproof roasting pan and roast in the middle of the
oven for approximately one hour. A meat thermometer
inserted into the center of the meat should register 160
F. Transfer the pork to a cutting board and permit it to
"rest" for about ten minutes.
While the loin is standing, add the lime juice to the
roasting pan. Deglaze over moderate heat, scraping up
brown bits. Add the veal demiglace, the reserved
morels, and the water used for soaking the morels.
Simmer, stirring, for about five minutes.
Serve hot with the pork loin.
Directions:
This is an elegant entrée that goes wonderfully with fresh steamed vegetables and, for something delicious and different, a side dish of orzo.
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