Pork Cheek and Black-Eyed Pea Chili

Submitted by HeatherN

"From the Feb 2008 issue of Food and Wine Magazine. The picture in the magazine looks incredible. Posting here so I can try the recipe in the fall. They suggest that if you can't find pork cheek, to use pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch pieces. (add 30 minutes to the cooking time in step 4) Can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Even though this was in the Food and Wine Magazine, they suggest to serve with a rich beer, such as Newcastle Brown Ale."

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 30mins
• Ingredients: 21
• Serves: 10

ingredients

• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon sweet smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 5 lbs pork cheeks, cleaned and trimmed
• salt
• pepper, freshly ground
• 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 lb thick slab bacon, cut into 1/2 inch dice
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 jalapenos, seeded and very finely chopped
• 2 red bell peppers, finely diced
• 1 (12 ounce) bottle amber ale or (12 ounce) bottle porter
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups canned whole Italian tomatoes, crushed
• 2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo, seeded and minced
• 1 lb dried black-eyed peas, picked over and rinsed
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• smoked cheddar cheese
• cilantro leaf
• creme fraiche

directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the coriander, paprika and cumin and toss with the pork cheeks. Season with salt and pepper.
2. In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat 2 Tbsp of the oil. Add half of the pork and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer the pork to a plate. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp of oil and brown the remaining pork over moderate heat. Transfer the pork to a plate.
3. Add the bacon to the casserole and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and slightly crisp, about 7 minutes. Add the onion, garlic and jalapenos and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Return the pork cheeks to the casserole along with any accumulated juices. Add the ale, chicken stock, tomatoes, chipotles, black-eyed peas and cinnamon stick and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over very low heat until the meat and beans are tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Season the chili with salt and pepper. Spoon off the fat from the surface and discard the cinnamon stick. Serve the chili in bowls. Pass the smoked cheddar, cilantro and creme fraiche at the table.