Braised pigs' cheeks with garlic-cumin potatoes
This delicious slow-cooked pork dish with garlicky potatoes is both Moorish in style and moreish in nature.
Ingredients
For the pigs' cheeks
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil, for frying
- 750g/1lb 10oz pigs' cheeks, preferably Ibérico pork or Gloucestershire Old Spot, trimmed of fat and sinew
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp raisins
- 200ml/7fl oz oloroso sherry
- 750ml/1¼ pints good-quality beef or dark-chicken stock
- 25g/1oz bitter chocolate
For the garlic-cumin potatoes
- 700g/1lb 8oz waxy potatoes such as Desirée potatoes, peeled, cut into cubes
- 1 tbsp olive oil, for frying
- 3 garlic cloves, finely sliced
- 1 tsp crushed cumin seeds
- 125g/4½oz softened unsalted butter
For the picada
- 1 slice crusty white bread, crusts removed, cut into chunks
- 70g/2½oz blanched almonds, preferably Spanish
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- ½ tsp grated orange zest
- small handful fresh flatleaf parsley leaves
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
For the pigs' cheeks, preheat the oven to 150C/130C Fan/Gas 2.
Heat the oil in an ovenproof casserole over a medium heat. Add the pigs' cheeks and fry for 1-2 minutes on all sides, or until browned all over. Remove from the casserole and set aside.
Add the onion, carrots and garlic to the casserole and fry for 4-5 minutes, or until light golden-brown.
Add the cumin, smoked paprika and raisins, stir well and continue to cook for a further 1-2 minutes.
Pour in the sherry and bring to the boil, scraping up any burned bits from the bottom of the pan using a wooden spoon. Continue to boil until the volume of sherry has reduced by two-thirds.
Return the pigs' cheeks to the casserole, the pour over the stock and return the mixture to the boil. Transfer the casserole to the oven and cook for 2-2½ hours, or until the pigs' cheeks are tender and the cooking liquid has reduced and thickened to a sauce.
Meanwhile, for the garlic-cumin potatoes, boil the potato cubes in a pan of salted water for 8-10 minutes, or until tender. Drain well, mash using a potato ricer or masher, then set aside to cool.
Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the garlic and cumin and fry until the garlic is pale golden-brown.
Mix together the mashed potatoes, garlic, cumin and the cooking oil in a bowl until well combined. Stir in the butter, then season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Keep warm.
For the picada, blend all of the picada ingredients to a thick paste in a food processor. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
When the pigs' cheeks are cooked, remove the casserole from the oven and place it on the hob over a medium heat. Stir in the chocolate and the three-quarters of the picada and simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until the chocolate has melted and the sauce has thickened a little more. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
To serve, divide the pigs' cheeks equally among 4 serving bowls. Spoon the potatoes alongside. Garnish each dish with some of the remaining picada.
