Milk Braised Pork Shoulder with Semolina Gnocchi
A luxurious Italian-inspired dish featuring tender pork shoulder braised in milk, wine, and tomatoes, served over homemade semolina gnocchi. This rich and comforting meal combines the sweetness of milk-braised pork with classic aromatics and pancetta for depth of flavor.
Ingredients
- •2½ pounds pork shoulder
- •1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
- •½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- •½ cup butter
- •½ cup all purpose flour
- •1 medium white onion
- •1 large carrot
- •1 large celery stalk
- •¼ pound pancetta
- •2 cups dry white wine
- •4 cups whole milk
- •2 cans plum tomatoes
- •1 recipe Semolina Gnocchi
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Place pork in large bowl. Mix 1 tablespoon coarse salt and cinnamon in small bowl. Sprinkle salt mixture over pork, tossing to coat evenly. Cover and chill overnight.
720 min
- 2.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook 2 minutes, whisking often (do not allow roux to brown). Remove from heat; cover and let stand until ready to use.
5 min
- 3.
Using on/off turns, blend onion, carrot, and celery in processor until finely chopped. Cook pancetta in large ovenproof pot over medium-high heat until beginning to brown and fat is rendered, about 6 minutes. Add vegetables to pot and sauté until beginning to brown, about 6 minutes. Add pork and sauté until brown, about 7 minutes. Add wine and bring to boil, stirring up browned bits. Add milk and bring to simmer. Add tomato puree, then whisk in roux. Simmer 5 minutes, whisking occasionally.
30 min
- 4.
Cover pot. Place in oven and braise pork until very tender, about 2 hours. Uncover; let pork cool briefly. Chill pork, uncovered, until cold, then cover and chill overnight.
720 min
- 5.
Rewarm pork over low heat, stirring often. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
15 min
- 6.
Place 1 gnocchi square in center of each plate. Top with pork and sauce.
5 min
- 7.
An Italian bacon cured in salt; available in the refrigerated deli case of many supermarkets and at Italian markets.