Portuguese Pork Stew


Ingredients
1/2 cup of extra-virgin olive oil3 pounds of 1-inch-thick boneless pork blade chops, cut into 1-inch cubes1 very large onion, very finely chopped5 large garlic cloves—4 minced, 1 whole1 1/2 cups dry white wine1 tablespoon of tomato paste1 1/2 of cups waterFinely grated zest of 1 lemon3 large bay leaves3 large thyme sprigs1 1/2 teaspoons of sweet paprika1 baguette, sliced 1/2 inch thick1 1/2 pounds kale, inner ribs and stems discarded, leaves coarsely choppedSpicy Red Pepper SauceFreshly ground pepper3 pounds of cockles, rinsed3 tablespoons of chopped corianderKosher salt
Preparation
  1. In a large, enameled cast-iron casserole, heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil until shimmering. Working in 3 batches, sear the pork over moderately high heat until browned all over, about 7 minutes per batch; you should not need to add oil between batches. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a platter and season with salt.
  2. Preheat the oven to 325°. Add half each of the minced onion and garlic to the casserole and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the wine and cook over moderately high heat until reduced by a third, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the casserole. Whisk in the tomato paste, then add the water, lemon zest, bay leaves, thyme, paprika and a generous pinch of salt. Return the meat and any accumulated juices to the casserole and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Skim the fat from the stew.
  3. Meanwhile, brush the baguette slices with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet; bake until lightly toasted. Rub the toasts with the whole garlic clove while they're still warm. 
  4. Add the kale to the stew, a handful at a time; let wilt slightly and add more. Stir in 1/2 cup of the Spicy Red Pepper Sauce; season with pepper. Cover and keep warm over very low heat.    
  5. In a large saucepan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the remaining minced onion and garlic and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the cockles and the remaining Spicy Red Pepper Sauce, cover and cook until most of the shells have opened, about 4 minutes. Pour the cockles and their juices into the pork stew and gently stir. Cook for 1 minute, or until heated through. Ladle the stew into shallow bowls. Top with the coriander and serve with the garlic toasts.
Recipe & Photo Credit: foodandwine.com
Preparation timen/a
Cooking Timen/a
Ready In3 h 5 min
Level of DifficultyModerate
Servings6