Monday Meal: Italian-Style Slow Cooker Pork | Buzz Blog

Monday, March 31, 2014

Monday Meal: Italian-Style Slow Cooker Pork

Posted By on March 31, 2014, 3:47 PM

  • Pin It
    Favorite
click to enlarge blog10600widea.webp

I recently bought a new slow cooker and I'm really loving it. It's especially great for slow-braising a dish like this: shredded pork in a tomato-based sauce. --- You could also cook the pork in a low oven - about 275 degrees F. 

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 to 2 lbs. boneless pork loin

salt and pepper, to taste 

2 Tbs. olive or canola oil

1 celery rib, minced

3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

1 large onion, diced

1 tsp. fennel seeds

1/2 tsp. crushed chile flakes 

1/2 cup red wine

1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes or tomato puree

3-4 basil leaves

Method: 

Generously salt and pepper the pork.

On the stove in a large skillet, saute the pork in the oil until browned on all sides over medium-high heat.

click to enlarge dsc04760.webp

Remove the pork and place it into your slow cooker.

click to enlarge dsc04761.webp

Turn the heat on the stove down to medium and saute the onion, garlic, celery, fennel seeds and chile flakes until softened, 4-5 minutes. 

click to enlarge dsc04763.webp

Add the wine to the pan and bring to a boil. Scrape up the tasty bits in the bottom of the pan and reduce the wine by about one-half, 2-3 minutes.

click to enlarge dsc04767.webp

click to enlarge dsc04770.webp

click to enlarge dsc04771.webp

Pour the mixture in the skillet over the pork in the slow cooker.

click to enlarge dsc04774.webp

Add the crushed or pureed tomatoes and basil to the slow cooker to cover the pork.

click to enlarge dsc04777.webp

Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours, or until the pork is very tender.

click to enlarge dsc04780.webp

click to enlarge dsc04778.webp

Remove the pork from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board. Using a couple of forks, shred the meat.

click to enlarge dsc04784.webp

click to enlarge dsc04786.webp

Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and give it a good stir. Set the cooker to warm until ready to serve.

dsc04791.webp

click to enlarge dsc04794.webp

Serve the shredded pork and sauce on pasta, rice, polenta, etc. with grated parmesan cheese (optional).

click to enlarge dsc04797.webp

I found that a bottle of Ruffino Modus 2011 from Tuscany was a good match for the Italian-style braised pork.  

dsc04795.webp

Photos by Ted Scheffler

Tags: , , , ,

On Topic...

More by Ted Scheffler

Latest in Buzz Blog

© 2025 Salt Lake City Weekly

Website powered by Foundation