Pear braised pork cutlets with smoked paprika Kipfler chips

Photo by Paul Mcmahon Styling by Amanda Talbot

Preparation time: 4 hours
Total time: 4 hours
Serves: 4
Cost per person $6.71
Prices are based on woolworths.com.au Black onion seeds bought from a specialist spice supplier

Pear relish ingredients:

Half a kilo of William Bartlet Pears peeled and cored diced (Oxidizing the pears or letting them turn brown will enhance their sweetness)

250 ml red wine vinegar

100g brown sugar

4 large shallots

a cinnamon stick

a star anise pod

Two teaspoons of black onion seeds

A generous dash of extra virgin olive oil

Main dish Ingredients:

Four pork cutlets

A large tablespoon of pear relish per cutlet

a bottle of pear cider

250ml of brown stock (I used duck stock but you can use any meat stock)

1 Kilo of Kipfler potatoes cut into quarters

2 teaspoons of smoked paprika

Two teaspoons of sea salt

A generous dash of extra virgin olive oil

Pear relish directions:

First thing first the pear relish. This Relish you will be able to use for other things like a cheese board. Saute the shallots in a pan wait until they are transparent and then add the spices and the sugar. Do not stir just gently agitate until the sugar starts to caramelize then add the vinegar and reduce this mixture by half. Add the pears and keep on stirring until most of the liquid disappears and you are left with a gelatinous mixture. Leave to cool and leave over night if possible to allow the flavors to mature.

Main dish Directions:

Lightly flour the pork cutlets and seal in a hot pan. Once browned nicely then take out of pan and deglaze the pan with the pear cider allow the pear cider reduce by half. Add the stock and pear cutlets to the pan with pear relish. To braise the cutlets cover with a lid or tin foil and place in the Oven at 160 degrees for at least 2 hours.

Meanwhile bring to the boil the Kipfler potatoes then allow to simmer for 5 minutes and strain and air dry. To increase crispness try cooling in the freezer. Deep fry the Kipflers at 170 degrees then pat off any excess oil and season with smoked paprika and salt. Or if you prefer bake in the oven at 200 degrees for forty minutes with olive oil and occasionally turn then season once cooked.

Allow the Pork cutlets to rest for at least half an hour then serve together with the chips and an ice cold pear cider.