Chef Michael Bonacini treks into the Sila region of Calabria, where dense woods and snow-capped peaks influence the Calabrian love for pork. Cooked low and slow with starchy potatoes and woodsy mushrooms, Pork Loin with Mushrooms and Potatoes is warm, hearty, and delicious

4 servings

gustotv.com/recipes

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
1 1⁄2 pounds (680 g) pork loin, cut into 6 slices Salt and pepper
6 pieces bacon, chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled
4 cups (950 ml) sliced porcini mushrooms
1 chili pepper, sliced
2 tablespoons (30 ml) rosemary leaves
1⁄4 cup (60 ml) white wine
2 cups (470 ml) chicken stock
4 large potatoes, peeled and sliced thinly
1 lemon, juice

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat olive oil in an earthenware pot over high heat.

Season pork with salt and pepper, then add to the pot, searing 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer pork to a plate.

Add bacon to pot and fry until it has rendered its fat and started to crisp up, 4-5 minutes.

Add mushrooms and garlic and cook until golden, 1-2 minutes. Add chili pepper and rosemary.

Pour the white wine into the pot, scraping the brown cooked bits from the bottom.

Return the pork to the pot, placing on top of the mushroom mixture. Pour chicken stock into the pot and reduce the heat to medium-low.

Lay potato slices over top of pork, covering completely. Season with salt and pepper and cover with a lid. Simmer 90 minutes.

Remove from heat and squeeze lemon juice over top. Serve from the earthenware pot.

One of the most famous Hungarian dishes, this slow-simmered Hungarian beef and onion stew is loaded with flavor and is positively delicious! Authentic Pörkölt, or Hungarian beef and onion stew, is a rich and flavorful dish. It features tender beef, caramelized onions, and traditional Hungarian spices like paprika and caraway seeds. The stew is simmered slowly for a deep and satisfying flavor. Pörkölt is typically served with potatoes or noodles, and it’s a comforting and delicious taste of Hungary.

Serves 4-6

Essen Recipes

INGREDIENTS
4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced (traditionally you would use about 2 tbsp of lard) and many Hungarians add some kolbasz for flavor
1 large yellow onion
1 green bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large tomato
1/2 tsp caraway seeds
1 bay leaf, salt and black pepper
1 1/2 pounds (700 g) stewing beef, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
4 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Water

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a heavy pot or Dutch oven and fry the bacon until crispy. Once done, add the onions and cook over medium-high heat until they turn golden. Add the bell peppers and garlic, and sauté for an additional two minutes. Next, add the beef to the pot and cook for one minute until it loses some of its pink color. Stir in the paprika, then remove the pot from the heat.

Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, caraway seeds, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pour just enough water into the pot to reach slightly over halfway up the stew mixture. Return the pot to the heat and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let it simmer for 90 minutes. If the stew is not thick enough, simmer uncovered for a few more minutes to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.

Serve with mashed or boiled potatoes or wide egg noodles. It is traditional to also serve a side salad, particularly a cucumber salad.

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Homemade Mashed Potatoes: Easy, Creamy, and Bursting with Flavor!

INGREDIENTS:
2 lb (1 kg) potatoes
1 tbsp salt
3 tbsp (50 g) unsalted butter
1/2 cup (120 ml) warm whole milk
1/2 tsp salt
Garnish with extra butter

INSTRUCTIONS:
To prepare the perfect mashed potatoes, start by cutting the potato into evenly sized pieces. Boil them in salted water until they are incredibly soft and can be easily crumbled with a fork. After draining, return the potatoes to the pot and mash them with butter and milk until they reach a creamy and fluffy texture.

Finally, transfer the mashed potatoes to a serving bowl and create decorative swirls on the top. This will provide the perfect canvas to drizzle some extra melted butter, taking the mashed potatoes to a whole new level of deliciousness!

This Breakfast Bake with Eggs by F&W’s Grace Parisi develops a terrific texture as it cooks slowly in a glass dish (which makes it easy to see when the bottom is perfectly browned). As one F&W editor remarked on tasting it, “I worship the crisp bottom and the chewy, moist bread.”

Serves 8

foodandwine.com

INGREDIENTS
1 pound bakery white bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (16 cups)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sliced applewood-smoked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
One 28-ounce can whole Italian tomatoes—drained, chopped and patted dry
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 pound extra-sharp cheddar, shredded (about 2 cups)
1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
2 tablespoons snipped chives
1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Salt
8 large eggs
Hot sauce, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly oil a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. In a large bowl, toss the bread with the olive oil and spread on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes, tossing once or twice, until the bread is golden and lightly crisp.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the bacon over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain; reserve 2 tablespoons of the fat in the skillet.

Add the onion to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and crushed red pepper and cook until any liquid is evaporated, about 3 minutes.

Return the toasted bread cubes to the bowl. Add the contents of the skillet, along with the bacon, shredded cheeses, chives and broth. Stir until the bread is evenly moistened. Season with salt. Spread the mixture in the baking dish and cover with lightly oiled foil.

Bake the bread mixture in the center of the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the top is crispy, about 15 minutes longer. Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and, using a ladle, press 8 indentations into the bread mixture. Crack an egg into each indentation. Return the dish to the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, until the egg whites are set but the yolks are still runny. Serve the breakfast bake right away with hot sauce.

Make Ahead:
The recipe can be prepared through Step 4 and refrigerated overnight.

Lasagne alla Bolognese: The original version of lasagna from medieval times consisted of large rectangular layers of fresh pasta separated by a simple mixture of cheese and spices. During the Renaissance, fish and shrimp were added-a delicious spin that is still common in the Veneto. Today, variations abound. In Bologna, spinach flavors and tints the noodles, which are layered with ragu alla bolognese and bechamel.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS
1 carrot
1 small onion
1 celery rib
2 oz pancetta or bacon
3 1/2 tbl unsalted butter
1/3 ground beef
1/3 ground pork
1/4 pound prosciutto crudo
1 tbl double concentrate tomato paste
full-bodied red wine
beef broth
salt
black peppercorns
nutmeg
1 1/2 cups plus 1/2 cup flour
1 egg
1 small bunch spinach
extra-virgin olive oil
4 tbl plus 1 1/2 tbl butter
2 1/2 cups milk
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

INSTRUCTIONS
Ragu:
In a large saucepan, combine 1 minced small carrot, 1/2 minced small onion, 1/2 minced celery rib, 2 ounces chopped pancetta and 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Heat over medium heat.

Stirring, lightly brown vegetables until golden in color.

Add 1/3 pound ground beef, 1/3 pound ground pork and 1/4 pound chopped prosciutto. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes more.

Stir in 1 tablespoon tomato paste.

Add 2/3 cup broth and 1/3 cup red wine; bring to a bare simmer, partially cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Spinach Pasta:
Boil and finely mince 1 small bunch spinach. Mound 1 1/2 cups flour in the center of a large wooden cutting board. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add 1 egg, 1 tablespoon oil and a pinch salt. Add spinach.

Using a fork, lightly beat together spinach and egg. Gradually incorporate flour, starting with the inner rim of the well.

When dough becomes too stiff to work with a fork, knead with hands until dough is no longer sticky (if dough is sticky, add more flour in tablespoon increments).

Knead dough until elastic, a few minutes more, dusting board with flour as needed. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Flatten dough so that it will fit through the rollers of a hand-cranked pasta machine. Set rollers to widest setting and pass dough through rollers, folding and turning pasta with each pass, 3 or 4 times. Cut into 2 pieces and, gradually decreasing pasta machine settings, roll pasta through machine (do not turn or fold) until it is about l millimeter thick and the width of the pasta machine.

Cut dough into large rectangles, the width of the pasta roller, and about 7 inches long.

Bechamel:
In a medium saucepan, heat 4 tablespoons butter and 1/2 cup flour over medium heat, stirring, until mixture is nicely colored.

In a slow and steady stream, add 2 1/2 cups milk, whisking continuously.

Simmer, stirring, until bechamel thickens, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Remove from the heat and add 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons butter; stir to combine. If the bechamel is not to be used immediately, cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

Lasagna:
Heat oven to 400°. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to boil. Add lasagna sheets and cook until they float to the top of the surface, about 15 seconds.

Drain, and immediately plunge into a bowl of ice water. Drain again, and dry between two clean kitchen towels.

Cover an 11″ x 7″ x 2″ rectangular baking dish (or similar size oval gratin dish; slightly smaller is fine) with an initial layer of lasagna, letting the pasta hong over the sides of the dish if necessary.

Cover with a layer of ragu, bechamel and grated Parmigiano-Reggiono cheese. Cover with another layer of pasta, fitting snug inside the dish, and continue, making a total of 4 layers with enough bechamel, ragu and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese leftover for the top.

To finish, fold any overflowing pasta over the dish. Top with remaining bechamel, ragu and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Pasta e Fagioli, also known as pasta fazool, or pasta and beans, is one of the most iconic Italian-American comfort foods. It’s simple to make, budget-friendly, and full of wonderful flavor and texture from cannellini beans, pancetta, Parmigiano Reggiano, ditalini pasta, and rosemary.

Serves 6

sipandfeast.com

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 ounces pancetta/bacon diced
5 cloves garlic minced
1 medium onion diced
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 16 ounce cans cannellini beans drained, but don’t rinse
6 cups water to start but add more as needed
3 canned plum tomatoes hand crushed, note: just 3 plum tomatoes from 1 can – that’s it!
1 sprig rosemary optional
2 cups ditalini pasta or small shells, elbows, etc
Parmigiano, grated (rind optional)
salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS
In a large heavy pot saute the pancetta in 1 tablespoon of olive oil for 7-10 minutes over medium heat or until the pancetta has rendered most of its fat.

Next, add in the onions and saute for 5 minutes then add in the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes more until just golden. Finally, add the hot red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds.

Next, add in 6 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and the plum tomatoes and give it all a stir. Add in the drained beans and the Parmigiano Reggiano rind (if you don’t have one, you can use a bit of grated cheese or just omit) and bring to a boil for 5 minutes.

Lower the heat to medium and crush some of the beans by smashing them against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon. For a creamier consistency use an immersion blender, or spoon ⅓ of the beans into a regular blender and pulse. Don’t blend too much so that some of the whole bean texture is maintained. Make sure to do this step before adding the pasta!

Add in the pasta and cook until al dente. Keep an eye on the pot and stir very frequently to avoid sticking. The pasta will absorb much of the liquid so add more water as needed. The final consistency of the pasta e fagioli is 100% a personal preference. If you like it soupier, add more water!

Once the pasta is al dente turn off the heat and taste test. Adjust salt (will probably need a good amount), pepper, and hot red pepper to taste.

When satisfied with the taste, serve in bowls with crusty bread. Offer grated cheese, hot red pepper flakes, or black pepper on the side and drizzle some high-quality extra virgin olive onto each bowl.

Venison in this Venison Meatballs recipe is similar to lean, grass-fed beef with a finer texture. It’s very low in fat, and because it is denser than beef, you can fill up on less. Cookbook author Hank Shaw likes to use ground venison for his British take on cocktail meatballs. He seasons them with warming spices and herbs and leavens them with ground oats—a Scottish twist that also makes them gluten-free. Because ground venison tends to be quite lean, Shaw includes the succulent fat from thick-cut bacon, which lends a pleasing richness and rounded flavor. Serve in your favorite sauce.

16 servings

foodandwine.com

INGREDIENTS
3 ½ thick-cut bacon slices (about 5 ounces)
3 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 cup finely chopped yellow onion or white onion
¾ cup uncooked old-fashioned regular rolled oats
2 pound ground venison, lamb or beef or a combo (less than 5% fat)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg or ground mace

INSTRUCTIONS
Place bacon slices in a single layer on a plate. Freeze, uncovered, until partially frozen, about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium. Add onion; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool 10 minutes.

While onion cools, pulse oats in a food processor until a coarse meal forms, about 8 pulses. Transfer to small bowl. Do not wipe food processor clean.

Coarsely chop bacon slices. Pulse in food processor until fine crumbles form, about 18 pulses.

Preheat oven to 425°F with racks in upper third and lower third positions. Using your hands, gently combine venison and bacon crumbles in a large bowl. Add egg, parsley, salt, thyme, sage, nutmeg, ground oats, and cooked onion; mix using your hands until thoroughly combined. Shape venison mixture into 70 small meatballs (about 1 tablespoon each). Divide meatballs between 2 large rimmed baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing evenly.

Bake in preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest portion of meatballs registers 160°F, about 10 minutes, rotating baking sheets between top and bottom racks halfway through cook time. Transfer meatballs to a large bowl; toss with 1/3 cup of your favorite sauce.

Use kielbasa, since Emeril now uses Italian sausage for this Tomato and Sausage Soup. Using a stock image.

Serves 6

emerils.com

INGREDIENTS
2 slices bacon, diced
4 ounces linguica, finely chopped
4 ounces linguica, sliced 1/4-inch thick
4 ounces chorizo, finely chopped
4 ounces chorizo, sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 cup chopped red onions
2 teaspoons Essence, recipe follows
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 bay leaf
4 cups chopped peeled and seeded tomatoes
3 cups chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Crusty bread

Essence (Emeril’s Creole Seasoning):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

INSTRUCTIONS
In a large saucepan or stock pot, fry the bacon over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the chopped and sliced sausages and cook with the bacon until the fat is rendered and all the meat is browned, about 5 minutes. Add the onions, Essence, and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.

Add the bay leaf, tomatoes and stock and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with cilantro and serve with crusty bread.

Bigos is an Eastern European stew that has many adaptations; some versions incorporate rice and/or a variety of vegetables and meats, so you can use whatever you have on hand. This version is a Polish hunter’s stew that features kielbasa, smoky bacon, melty cabbage, and lots of delicious broth that can be sopped up with bread.

Serves 12

bonappetit.com

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. double-smoked slab bacon, cut into 1″ cubes
1½ lb. kielbasa sausage, sliced on a diagonal ½” thick
8 garlic cloves, crushed
3 Tbsp. double concentrated tomato paste
1 Tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground cumin
¾ tsp. cayenne pepper
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 cup dry white wine
2 Tbsp. kosher salt
1 small head of green cabbage (about 2 lb.), cored, thinly sliced
2 large carrots, peeled, sliced 1½” thick
1 Pink Lady apple, cored, grated on the large holes of a box grater
2 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed, cut into 1″ pieces
1 lb. sauerkraut (not drained; about 2 cups)
4 cups homemade beef stock or water
Small dill sprigs, dark rye or pumpernickel bread, and unsalted butter (for serving)

INSTRUCTIONS
Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium heat, stirring often, until brown and crisp, 10–12 minutes. Transfer bacon to a small bowl with a slotted spoon; set aside. Cook kielbasa in bacon fat in pot, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with tongs; set aside.

Reduce heat to medium-low, add garlic to same pot, and cook, stirring often, until just beginning to turn golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until paste darkens slightly in color and begins to stick to pot, about 2 minutes. Add paprika, coriander, cumin, and cayenne and cook, stirring constantly, just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Immediately add onions and turn to coat. Increase heat to medium-high, pour in wine, and cook, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pot, until smell of the alcohol cooks off, about 3 minutes. Stir in salt, then add cabbage, carrots, apple, potatoes, sauerkraut, stock, and reserved bacon. Bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer gently, mixing well halfway through, 1 hour. Mix in reserved kielbasa. Cover and cook until bacon is tender, cabbage is meltingly soft, and potatoes are cooked through, 30–60 minutes.

Divide stew among bowls. Top with dill. Serve with bread and butter alongside.

Do Ahead: Stew can be made 1 week ahead (flavor will improve as time goes on). Cover and chill.

A hearty bowl of Hoppin’ John has been the way that many Southern households ring in the New Year. Served alongside a side of collard greens and cornbread, this meal signifies a year filled with good fortune and security.

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil (if using ham hock)
1 smoked ham hock or 8 oz. slab bacon, cut into ¼” pieces
1 small onion, finely chopped
½ green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1¼ cups dried black-eyed peas, soaked overnight, drained
1 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
2 tsp. dried thyme
1 bay leaf
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Kosher salt
Cooked long-grain rice (such as Carolina)
thinly sliced scallions (for serving)

INSTRUCTIONS
If using ham hock, heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. If using bacon, cook in a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until bacon is crisp, 8–10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper towel–lined plate. Carefully pour out all but 2 Tbsp. fat from pot.

Add onion, bell pepper, and celery to pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add black-eyed peas, Cajun seasoning, dried thyme, bay leaf, and ham hock (if using), then pour in broth. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and cover pot. Simmer until peas are tender but not mushy, 1–1½ hours.

Drain pea mixture in a fine-mesh sieve; discard cooking liquid and bay leaf. Return pea mixture to pot, add pepper. If using bacon, return to pot and stir to combine. If using ham hock, remove from pot and let cool slightly. Pull meat from bone and return to pot; discard bone. Taste and season with salt.

Divide rice among bowls and top with a ladleful of peas. Scatter scallions over.

Brightened by apple cider vinegar and tomatoes, our bacon jam adds sweet, tart and smoky flavors to countless dishes. We like this condiment spread on toast and served with an egg, layered into a grilled cheese sandwich or spooned on goat-cheese topped crostini.

Yield 1 1/2 cups

foodandwine.com

INGREDIENTS
12 ounces thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice (2 1/4 cups)
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño, halved, seeded and minced
Kosher salt
Pepper
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 medium beefsteak tomato, cored and cut into 1/4-inch dice (2 cups)
2 tablespoons tomato paste

INSTRUCTIONS
In a medium enameled cast-iron casserole, cook the bacon over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 11 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a medium bowl. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat.

Add the onion, garlic and jalapeño to the casserole and season with generous pinches of salt and pepper. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is very soft, about 12 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar and cook until the onion begins to caramelize, about 8 minutes. Pour in the vinegar and simmer until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the reserved bacon, tomato and tomato paste, cover partially and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until a thick jam forms, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Scrape the bacon jam into a jar and let cool completely before sealing with a lid.