Celebrity chef
Matthew Drennan
delicious. magazine’s editor has worked as a chef, a food writer and stylist, and launched Ready, Steady, Cook magazine. Matthew has also written five cookery books (two of which won the Gourmand world cookery book award) including Weber’s Fresh On The Grill and Classic Irish.
Serves 6

Roast pork with braised red cabbage, pears and juniper recipe

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Takes 45 minutes to make and 1 hour 50 minutes in the oven, plus resting

1.5kg boned and rolled loin of pork, or boned-out spare rib of pork
8 juniper berries
1 tbsp chopped fresh sage
Sunflower oil, for greasing
2 tsp plain flour
600ml fresh vegetable stock, hot

For the cabbage
Good splash of olive oil
1 red onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1kg red cabbage, halved and sliced
2 tbsp muscovado sugar
8 juniper berries, lightly crushed
300ml full-bodied red wine
3 pears, cored and roughly grated


1. Preheat the oven to 240°C/fan220°C/gas 9. Unroll the pork and score the skin. Grind the berries with the sage, season, and sprinkle over the meat side of the pork. Re-roll and tie up. Weigh the joint. Roast in a lightly greased roasting tin for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4 and roast for 30 minutes per 500g, or until the juices run clear when pierced. Put the pork on a plate, cover, and rest for 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, make the cabbage. Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cabbage, sugar, berries and wine. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Season, add the pears and cook, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, until the liquid is mostly evaporated. Cover and set aside.
3. Make the gravy. Pour the excess fat from the roasting tin and put the tin over a medium heat. Stir in the flour, cook for 1 minute, and gradually stir in the stock, scraping as you go. Bring to the boil, reduce and season. Strain into a serving jug. Carve the pork and lay slices on the cabbage to serve.

Nutritional info
Per serving: 480kcals, 14.2g fat (0.6g saturated), 57.7g protein, 22.7g carbs, 20g sugar, 0.2 salt
Roast pork with braised red cabbage, pears and juniper recipe
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