Ground pork is like that trusty old friend who always shows up with a surprise, isn’t it? Whether you’re in the mood for something quick and easy after a long day or you’re planning a cozy family meal on a Sunday, these 15 recipes have you covered. From savory stir-fries to comforting meatballs, ground pork can transform any dish into a masterpiece.
Steps
- Spicy Pork and Vegetable Tofu: Start by preparing your choice of seasonal vegetables, with zucchini being a popular option. Cook the ground pork with your vegetables and tofu, ensuring everything is evenly coated in your chosen spices for a balanced flavor.
- Lazy Pork Dumplings: Prepare the ground pork filling and spoon it onto dumpling wrappers. Cook them by boiling, steaming, or frying, and serve in a vinegary broth for a soup dumpling experience.
- Italian Meatballs: Combine equal parts of ground pork and beef, soaking breadcrumbs in milk for extra moisture. Mix all ingredients thoroughly, shape into balls, and bake directly in sauce for simplicity and flavor.
- Crepinettes with Apricots and Pistachios: Mix ground pork with chopped apricots and pistachios. Wrap the mixture in caul fat and cook until the patties are moist and richly flavored.
- Sausage Rolls: Fill pastry with seasoned ground pork and slice into rounds before baking for a crispier texture. Enjoy these rolls with a mustard dip.
- Swedish Meatballs: Season ground pork and beef with nutmeg and allspice, then bake. Simmer the meatballs in a creamy Swedish sauce, and serve with potatoes and lingonberry preserves.
- Pork Wonton Soup: Fill wonton wrappers with a pork mixture and simmer in a broth with mushrooms, bok choy, and green onions. Customize the broth with ginger and other seasonings as desired.
- Tourtiere (French Canadian Meat Pie): Prepare a savory pork filling, encase it in pie crust, and bake until golden. This hearty pie is best served at room temperature.
- Perfect Pot Stickers: Fill wrappers with a seasoned mixture of ground pork, cabbage, and spices. Cook them until the bottoms are crispy, and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Creamy Mushroom Meatloaf: Blend ground pork, veal, and beef, and bake the meatloaf smothered in mushroom gravy. This method ensures a moist texture and rich sauce.
- Hot Dog Sausages: Combine ground beef and pork with seasonings to create a firm-textured sausage. Shape into skewers and cook for a homemade hot dog experience.
- Lion’s Head Meatballs: Form large meatballs from ground pork and gently simmer them with vegetables in a savory broth. Enjoy these tender meatballs, inspired by a traditional Chinese dish.
Ingredients
- Ground pork
- Ground beef
- Spicy pork seasoning (unspecified)
- Zucchini
- Vinegar
- Bread crumbs
- Milk (or substitute with water or beef broth)
- Apricots
- Pistachios
- Caul fat
- Mustard
- Nutmeg
- Allspice
- Swedish meatball sauce (unspecified)
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Bok choy
- Green onions
- Ginger
- Onion
- Soy sauce
- Hot pepper
- Cilantro
- Lime
- Lemongrass
- Cabbage (green)
- Sesame oil
- Cayenne pepper
- Veal
- Mushroom gravy
- Seasonings for hot dogs (unspecified)
- Lamb kebab seasonings (unspecified)
- Napa cabbage
FAQ
- What makes Chef John’s ground pork recipes versatile and appealing?
- Chef John’s ground pork recipes are versatile and appealing due to their budget-friendly nature and delicious taste. The recipes include a wide variety of dishes like meatballs, dumplings, and sausage rolls that can be easily adapted with different ingredients and cooking methods.
- How can you enhance the flavor of Chef John’s Spicy Pork and Vegetable Tofu?
- To enhance the flavor of the Spicy Pork and Vegetable Tofu, Chef John suggests salting zucchini for about 15 minutes, which helps to highlight the distinct taste of all the ingredients while blending them into a harmonious dish. You can also incorporate any seasonal vegetables you have on hand.
- What is the secret to making tender and moist Italian Meatballs according to Chef John?
- Chef John’s trick for tender and moist Italian Meatballs is to soak the breadcrumbs in milk before mixing them with the ground pork and beef. This technique, along with skipping the pan-frying step, simplifies the process and improves the texture and flavor, especially when reheated the next day.
- What ingredient does Chef John use to make Crepinettes unique, and why might some people be hesitant to use it?
- Chef John uses caul fat to make Crepinettes unique due to its interesting culinary properties. However, its unusual appearance may deter some from using it. Despite this, caul fat ensures the sausage patties are moist and flavorful.
- What is a common alternative method Chef John suggests for making sausage rolls crispier?
- Chef John advises cutting the sausage rolls into individual rounds before baking rather than baking them whole. Although it requires a bit more effort, this method results in a crispier texture that enhances the overall eating experience.
Tips
- When making the Spicy Pork and Vegetable Tofu dish, consider salting zucchini for about 15 minutes before cooking to enhance its flavor. Feel free to use any seasonal vegetables you have on hand for a fresh and varied dish.
- For Lazy Pork Dumplings, try Chef John’s quick assembly method, which works whether you choose to boil, steam, or fry the dumplings. Serve them in a vinegary broth to mimic the experience of soup dumplings and balance the rich flavors.
- In Chef John’s Italian Meatballs, soak bread crumbs in milk (or substitute with water or beef broth) to achieve moister and more tender meatballs. This method is simple and skips the messy step of pan-frying before adding them to the sauce.
- For Chef John’s Sausage Rolls, cut them into individual rounds before baking for crispier results that are worth the extra effort. Enjoy them with a bit of mustard for added flavor.
Equipment
- Dumpling Maker or Press – Useful for forming dumplings more efficiently.
- Caul Fat – An ingredient for making crepinettes, often available online from specialty food suppliers.
- Wonton Wrappers – Essential for making wontons, these might be available at local stores but are also sold online.
- Meat Grinder – If you opt to grind your own pork and beef, a meat grinder would be necessary.
- Bamboo Steamer – Useful for steaming dumplings, pot stickers, or wontons.
- Pastry Cutter – Helpful for cutting pastry dough for sausage rolls or meat pies.
- Pastry Brush – Useful for applying egg wash on pastry surfaces for a golden finish.
- Lingonberry Preserves – Traditional accompaniment for Swedish meatballs, available online if not locally.
- Specialty Sausage Casings – If making homemade hot dogs or sausages, sausage casings might be needed.
