Faith Middleton's Food Schmooze

Dorie Greenspan’s Bourbon-Roasted Pork Loin

CourseMain Dish
CuisineAmerican, French
Keywordroasting

Servings

6people

Servings

6people

Ingredients

One3-pound (1-1/2-kg) boneless pork loin roast(not tenderloin), at close to room temperature
1/4cup (60 ml) bourbon
1/4cup (60 ml) grainy mustard(preferably French)
2tablespoons honey
2tablespoons brown sugar
1teaspoon Sriracha
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2tablespoons olive oil
2medium onionsthinly sliced, rinsed and patted dry
2 applessuch as Gala or Fuji, unpeeled, cored and cut into 6 pieces each

Instructions

Using a sharp paring knife, cut a shallow crosshatch pattern in the roast’s top layer of fat, taking care not to cut into the meat.
Mix the bourbon, mustard, honey, brown sugar, Sriracha, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper together. Rub this over the pork, covering all sides. If you’re cooking the roast now, just set it aside while the oven preheats. Or put it in a covered container and refrigerate until needed. (The rubbed pork can be refrigerated for up to 8 hours — pull it out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before cooking.)
Center a rack in the oven and preheat it to 400 degrees F.
Warm the oil in a Dutch oven or other heavy high-sided ovenproof casserole over medium heat. Toss in the onions and apples, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring regularly, for about 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent and the apples are starting to soften.
Center the roast on top of the apples and onions, pour in whatever liquids from the rub have accumulated and slide the pot into the oven. Roast the pork, uncovered, for 45 to 55 minutes, basting it a couple of times, until a thermometer inserted into the center of the roast registers 135 to 140 degrees F.
Allow the roast to sit for a few minutes before slicing and serving it with the onions, apples and delicious pan juices.

Recipe Notes

WORKING AHEAD: If you’ve got the time, you’ll get even more flavor if you give the pork up to 8 hours in the refrigerator after you coat it with the bourbon rub.

STORING: The leftover roast will keep tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for about 4 days. You can heat it gently if some pan juices remain. Or slice it and make great sandwiches.