Braised pork with plums

Meltingly tender meat in a spicy, fruity sauce, this meal is guaranteed to impress

Recipe uploaded by

Good Food

61 ratings 5

Recipe by Good Food

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Difficulty and servings

Serves 8

Preparation and cooking times

Prep 25 mins

Cook 2 hrs

plus marinating

Cut the pork into big pieces about the length of your thumb and twice as wide. Put into a bowl or food bag, and add the wine, soy sauces, half the ginger, half the garlic and half the chilli. Marinate for at least 1 hr or up to 24 hrs.
Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3, then heat the oil in a large casserole. Tip in half the spring onions, remaining ginger and garlic, the star anise, five-spice powder and cinnamon. Fry gently until fragrant and soft. Stir in the sugar, turn up the heat, then lift the pork from the marinade and turn in the oniony mix for about 3 mins until the meat is just sealed but not browned. Tip in the marinade, tomato purée and stock, give it a stir, cover, then braise in the oven for 2 hrs.
After the first hr is up, add the plums to the pan. Take the lid off and carry on the cooking, uncovered. The meat should be completely tender, turning golden brown where it breaks the surface of the sauce. Spoon off any excess fat from the surface, then scoop the meat and plums carefully from the pan with a slotted spoon. Turn up the heat and boil the sauce for 5-10 mins until reduced and slightly syrupy. Return everything to the pan, gently warm through, then scatter the rest of the spring onions over the top to serve.

IF YOU WANT TO USE A SLOW COOKER...

Adapt this recipe by preparing the pork according to step 1. Then cook the spring onions, remaining ginger, garlic, chilli, cinnamon, star anise, five-spice, sugar and 2 tbsp tomato purée. Fry until soft then add the pork, frying until sealed. Put it all into the slow cooker with the marinade, cover and cook for 8-9 hours on Low. Skim off surface fat halfway through. Stir in the plums an hour before the end. Scoop out the plums and meat then make the sauce and serve according to step 3.

530 kcalories, protein 40g, carbohydrate 11g, fat 36 g, saturated fat 13g, fibre 1g, sugar 10g, salt 2.87 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, October 2009.

Latest comments and suggestions

Results 61-80

cagoodden

23 September 2012

cagoodden rated and commented on this recipe

This recipe is incredible, it's full of flavour and it looks quite professional. It's not fiddly at all, the first time I marinated it for an hour and a half, the second for 24 hours and either way it was delicious. I'm a student and I bought a shoulder of pork which was 1.36kg, I served this recipe for 3 people therefore I only used half and the rest will do me for about 3 more meals! Served it with egg noodles.

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DJW

24 September 2012

DJW commented on this recipe

Has anyone tried freezing it? May be without the plums then add them when reheating?

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JeanieH

04 October 2012

JeanieH commented on this recipe

This recipe sounds divine. If cooking this in a slow cooker, how long would you set it for? Please let me know cooking times for both low and high temperatures in slow cooker. Thank you.

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JeanieH

04 October 2012

JeanieH commented on this recipe

Sorry, just realised that the slow cooker instructions are on the bottom of the recipe. I have a friend coming over for a mid-week supper so will try this out in the slow cooker for a fuss free evening meal.

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Mark

13 October 2012

Mark rated this recipe

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ducklegs

15 October 2012

ducklegs rated and commented on this recipe

Enjoyed this meal when we had friends to stay . Made in advance the day before and served with spiced red cabbage and mustard mash, delicious ! Our friends requested a copy of the recipe to take home for future use. Easy to prepare and one of the best Good Food recipes I have ever tasted.

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Lyndseymac

19 October 2012

Lyndseymac rated and commented on this recipe

Wow, what can I say. Tastes great and so easy to make in my cast iron casserole dish. Love this recipe.

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Kathy

21 October 2012

Kathy rated and commented on this recipe

I loved this but husband hated it so we agreed on a 3 star score and that I wouldn't make it for him again! Used sherry instead of rice wine.

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cath34980

25 October 2012

cath34980 rated and commented on this recipe

This went down very well with my 3 children and husband - I used lean pork as it was on offer in the supermarket, so should have cooked it slightly less. Next time I will make it with a fattier cut as stated in the recipe.

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Frenchie

25 October 2012

Frenchie rated and commented on this recipe

This was fabulous. Made in slow cooker with half a bottle of red wine, did not put in plums, as children not keen, but thickened gravy with redcurrant jelly which gave a lovely taste.

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robkilq

28 October 2012

robkilq rated this recipe

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Lemonychoc

31 October 2012

Lemonychoc rated and commented on this recipe

I absolutely loved this recipe it was soooo tasty, I used loin chops and cubed those because I had some in the freezer. I took inger gdfd's advice and only used 1/2 tsp of five spice and it was perfect. I have made it again since and will continue to do so in the future. You will love it, quick to prepare and great taste, make it today.

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sophiereay

07 November 2012

sophiereay rated and commented on this recipe

Cooked this for my very fussy boyfriend and he loved it!! Definitely a winner!

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welshbakerchick

14 November 2012

welshbakerchick rated and commented on this recipe

I Made this for dinner last night after reading all the rave reviews. Marinated the pork for 24hrs. Thought it was ok but not fantastic. Fiancee enjoyed it. I was a bit disappointed and have made better recipes from good food. Probably wont make this a regular in our house :-(

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loui2812

19 November 2012

loui2812 commented on this recipe

I got some very funny looks off my husband when I told him I was cooking Pork and Plums, but he LOVED it. (even took some left overs to work). I will confess to not exactly collowing the recipie to the letter. However, that is how I cook. Will definately be cooking this again. We have a Chinese wedding coming up in the family and I will defiantely be making this as part of the buffet.

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Dionne

25 November 2012

Dionne rated and commented on this recipe

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! â�¥â�¥â�¥ IT!

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kjalee

21 January 2013

kjalee rated and commented on this recipe

Did this with chicken and it was delicious. Rich, sticky, and the meat just fell off the bone. Served with pak choi and noodles. My boyfriend loved it. Will definitely make again.

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Janet

01 February 2013

Janet rated and commented on this recipe

I made it with ready to eat dried prunes instead of plums - put them in the slow cooker with the meat - it was lovely!

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Lemonychoc

09 February 2013

Lemonychoc commented on this recipe

I absolutely love this recipe and am making it again today. I use any pork I can get as they all work, it depends what is on offer. I freeze the leftovers and it comes out just as though I just cooked it. I have served it both with mash or rice I think I prefer mash. Cook it now you will love it.

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JulesM

14 February 2013

JulesM rated and commented on this recipe

Flavoursome and delicious yet easy to make. A winner every time

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