Roast Pork Loin Stuffed with Apples, Chestnuts, and Boursin               

 tags (edit): @Favorite @5 Star @Tried @Vogel Main Dish  

 

I learned from Jane Grigson's excellent book on charcuterie that if you brine pork for a day before cooking it you have a sure way to guarantee moist and very flavorful pork, as long as you do not overcook it. Remember that pork can be very slightly beige-pink and still be safe in terms of Trichinosis, the trichinae being killed at a meat internal temperature of 137 degrees.

Ingredients

3 pound Center-Cut Pork Loin
BRINE
1/4 cup Salt
1/4 cup Sugar
2 quart Water
2 Bay Leaf
1 tablespoon Allspice Berries
STUFFING
1 tablespoon Thyme Dried
2 large Shallots Finely Chopped
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1/3 pound Chestnuts Steamed Peeled And Chopped
1/3 pound Apples Peeled Cored And Chopped
1 wheel Boursin Cheese
2 tablespoon Rosemary Leaves Fresh Finely Chopped
to taste Salt & Pepper
SAUCE
1 cup Chicken Stock
2 tablespoon Dijon-Style Mustard
4 tablespoon Unsalted Butter


 

Instructions
 1. Trim the loin so there is only 1/4 inch fat on top. Mix the salt, sugar, water, bay leaves, allspice, and thyme in a pan and heat until the salt and sugar are dissolved; let cool. Put the loin in a pan just large enough to hold it and the liquid and pour the brine over the pork. Let it marinate overnight or at least 6 hours in the refrigerator.

2. When the pork is fully brined, remove it and wipe it dry. With the handle of a wooden spoon or with a round knife-sharpening steel, poke a hole carefully through the very center of the loin. Alternatively, cut the loin so it is flat, smear some of the stuffing mixture and roll & tie the loin.

3. Put the shallots, oil, chestnuts, apples, and 1 tablespoon of water into a small saute pan. Cover and sweat over low heat for 10 minutes; do not let the mixture brown. Stir in the boursin cheese and half the rosemary. Set aside to cool. When the mixture is cool, push the mixture into the center of the loin so that it is evenly distributed. Mix the remaining oil and rosemary and rub all over the outside of the loin. Season and let marinate at room temperature for 2 hours.

4. Heat the oven to 325 degrees.

5. Heat a saute pan over high heat and sear the loin and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Put the loin in a roasting pan just large enough to hold it and cook until the internal temperature reaches 140, about 30 minutes. Remove the loin to a plate and let it sit for 10-15 minutes in a warm place, tented with foil.

6. While the loin rests, pour any fat out of the roasting pan and wipe it gently to remove all the fat. Pour in the stock and reduce it to 1/2 cup, scraping the pan to dissolve any of the browned meat juices. Strain the stock into a saucepan. Whisk in the mustard and the butter until incorporated. Keep the sauce warm.

7. Cut the pork into 1/8 or 1/4 inch slices. Put the slices on hot plates and pour the sauce over them.




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Yields: 5 Servings
    

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