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Steirisches Wurzelfleisch
Pork simmered with root vegetables
Steirisches Wurzelfleisch: Styrian pork simmered with root vegetables and fresh horseradish
Wurzelfleisch, 'root meat', is a winter dish from the farms of Styria in south-east Austria, cooked in November and December when pigs were killed and the cellar was full of carrots, celeriac and parsley root. Pork shoulder is simmered in a lightly sour broth, then served in deep plates with thin strips of root vegetables, boiled potatoes and a snowfall of freshly grated horseradish. It is a gentle, clean-tasting dish, quite unlike a roast. Chef's tip: grate the horseradish at the table; it loses its bite within minutes.
- Total time
- 130 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the pork
- 2 ¼ lb boneless pork shoulder (or rind-on pork belly)in 2 pieces
- 8 ¼ cups water
- 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 onionhalved
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 juniper berriescrushed
- 1 tsp caraway seeds
- 2 tsp salt
For the vegetables
- 2 carrotscut into thin batons
- 7 oz celeriaccut into thin batons
- 2 parsley roots or parsnipscut into thin batons
- 1 ⅓ lb waxy potatoespeeled and quartered
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 2 ⅛ oz fresh horseradish rootpeeled
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put the 2 ¼ lb boneless pork shoulder (or rind-on pork belly) in a large pot with the 8 ¼ cups water, 3 tbsp white wine vinegar, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 2 bay leaves, 8 black peppercorns, 4 juniper berries, 1 tsp caraway seeds and 2 tsp salt. Bring to the boil, skim, then cover and simmer gently for 1½ hours, until a fork slides in easily. The pork will be well past 145°F; tenderness is the cue here.
90 minStep 2: Boil the 1 ⅓ lb waxy potatoes in salted water for 18–20 minutes until tender.
20 minStep 3: Lift out the pork and keep it warm. Strain the broth into a clean pan, bring to a simmer and add the 2 carrots, 7 oz celeriac and 2 parsley roots or parsnips. Cook for 6–8 minutes, until just tender with a little bite. Common mistake: cutting the roots thick, so they need longer and turn the broth murky.
8 minStep 4: Slice the pork thickly. Put it in deep plates with the potatoes, spoon over the vegetables with a ladle of broth and scatter with 2 tbsp chopped parsley.
3 minStep 5: Grate the 2 ⅛ oz fresh horseradish root generously over each plate at the table.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Protein
- 46 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does steirisches Wurzelfleisch take?
- About 130 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 110 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of white wine vinegar?
- Cider vinegar or rice vinegar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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