MILK-BRAISED PORK SHOULDER WITH FENNEL, PECANS AND FIGS

Pork, milk, nuts, figs

... this is such a deliciously savory poem.

3 pounds boneless pork

shoulder Kosher salt

2 teaspoons freshly

ground black pepper 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 medium onions, diced 6 bay leaves

6 whole cloves

2 quarts whole milk 2 fennel bulbs

½ cup pecan halves,

toasted and chopped 8 dried figs, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon freshly

squeezed lemon juice 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Preheat a slow cooker on the high setting for at least 15 minutes.

Pat the pork shoulder dry and season it well all over with salt and the pepper

Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large braising pot, such as a Dutch oven, over mediumhigh heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the pork and sear it for about 3 minutes on each side until golden, for a total of about 12 minutes.

Remove the pork from the pot and set it aside. Add the onions, bay leaves, cloves, and milk to the pot and cook, scraping up any browned bits, for 3 minutes.

Add the milk mixture to the slow cooker, then add the pork. Cover with the lid, reduce the setting to low, and cook for 8 to 12 hours, until the pork is very tender.

Before serving the pork, prepare the fennel by removing the bottom half inch of the root ends and cutting away the branches about 1 inch above the bulbs. Cut the bulbs in half lengthwise and then into thirds.

Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the fennel pieces, season them well with salt, and cook for 5 minutes, until caramelized. Then flip the pieces over and cook until done, about 5 minutes more. Remove the fennel from the skillet and set it aside. Add the pecans and figs to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and chopped parsley, and immediately transfer the mixture to a small bowl.

Remove the pork shoulder from the slow cooker and place it on a platter. Arrange the fennel around the pork, and garnish the dish with the pecan and fig crumble. The pork will be so tender that you don’t really have to carve it. You can just pull it apart and serve it.

Slow cooker size: 6-plus quarts

Prep time: 40 minutes Cook time: 8 to 12 hours

Serves: 6

617 calories (percent of calories from fat, 33), 52 grams protein, 26 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 33 grams fat (11 grams saturated), 144 milligrams cholesterol, 471 milligrams sodium.