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Arrosto Di Maiale Al Latte (Pork Braised in Milk)

02/13/06 @ 06:00:00 am, by Kate Hopkins Email 4376 views • Categories: Pork, Entrees, Milk

Arrosto Di Maiale Al Latte

In my blue sky world, braising is a skill that is easy to learn, but takes a fair amount of practice to master. To me, the perfect braise is one where the juicy meat falls into pieces by simply giving it a stern glance.

I have yet to reach this point. Instead, my braises come out moist and tasty, but yet still have to reach that pinnacle point of moistness.

This is an Italian dish, if the name hasn't tipped you off. The use of butter and milk tip us off that it comes from the northern part of Italy, probably somewhere close to where the Winter Olympics are currently taking place.

Don't let the milk scare you off of this recipe. The pork came out wonderfully sweet, and was moist enough to not raise any eyebrows.

  • 2 Tblsp butter
  • 2 lb pork loin roast
  • Salt and ground pepper to taste
  • 2 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 5 cloves garlic, whole
  • 3 Tbsp water

In a large pan (large enough to accomodate your pork loin with room for milk and circulation), melt your butter over medium high heat.

While the butter is melting, sprinkle your pork loin liberally with salt and pepper. Place the loin in the pan and allow to sear brown on all sides.

Immediately lower the heat to low and pour in the milk and add the garlic cloves. Cover, leaving the lid slightly off. Cook for 2 hours.

When done, the meat should be tender, and there should be collections of milk clumps surrounding the pork loin. Remove the loin and allow to set for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, remove the fat from the top of the milk. Add the water and place over medium heat. Whisk well until water evaporates.

Slice the pork and top with the sauce.

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Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Sher [Visitor] · http://whatdidyoueat.typepad.com
This is one of my favorite recipes. Not only is it delicious, but the looks of confusion on some people's faces as you tell them the pork was cooked in milk is priceless.
PermalinkPermalink 02/13/06 @ 08:24
Comment from: Barbara Fisher [Visitor] · http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/
I learned the trick of cooking meats in milk from an Italian chef in culinary school who taught me how to do bolognaise "right."

The use of milk to cook the ground meats is what makes bolognaise so smooth and tender, without clumps of meat. It makes it all fall apart.

The chef told me it had something to do with the milk proteins tenderizing the meat.

I don't know, but ever since I learned that, I use that trick for cooking all minced meats, and it gives a great succulence to them.
PermalinkPermalink 02/13/06 @ 08:56
Comment from: greg [Visitor]
I'm going to hazard a guess that part of the lack of moistness you are encountering is because you're using a loin roast.

I believe that the major source of internal moisture in a good braise is the result of collagen breaking down and fat melting. Since pork loin is so damnably lean, there's just not that much fat and collagen to contribute internal moisture.

Having said that, braised meat will re-absorb some liquid as it cools, so if you let the roast cool down in the braising liquid, it may help a bit.

Or maybe I'm full of crap. :-)
PermalinkPermalink 02/13/06 @ 16:52
Comment from: k [Visitor]
i agree with greg-braising results in those lovely fall apart unctuous bits when there is fat and collagen available, so i think if you try your recipe with, say, a pork butt (the shoulder) and save the loin for a roast, you will have better results with this recipe.
PermalinkPermalink 02/14/06 @ 08:39
Comment from: Gia [Visitor] · http://www.gia-gina.blogspot.com
This story gives me deja vu. Two weeks ago I was in the marcelleria (butcher shop) asking for a pork loin. He casually asked me how I was going to cook it. I told him seared and roasted until pink and served with a apple raisen chutney. (I told him it was like a sweet marmalade for meat since many Italians don't eat ethnic). He then gave me a similiar recipe to this one, involving milk. I must say it raised my eyebrows and I have yet to try it.
PermalinkPermalink 02/14/06 @ 12:16
Comment from: Dr. Biggles [Visitor] · http://www.meathenge.com
mmMMmMmm, pork.

I believe I'll bypass the loin and the butt and go for a sirloin roast. The sirloin has a tad more fat than the loin. Oh yes.
You could stick with the loin roast and reduce the heat a bit and lengthen out the time, this would be less likely to cook whatever fat is in the meat, out. Maybe do it in the oven where you can regulate the temperature really well.
Maybe this coming weekend?

Biggles
PermalinkPermalink 02/14/06 @ 13:45
Comment from: Dr. Biggles [Visitor] · http://www.meathenge.com
As I was driving home to pick up a load of pork roasts and thinking about pork, I realized that if you kept an eye on the pork loin roast and pulled it when it hit an internal temperature of 140 or so, it'd come out juicy and happy.
It's the butt & sirloin that can handle longer cooking.
I've got what I need and Meathenge Labs is on the job.

Biggles
PermalinkPermalink 02/14/06 @ 17:03
Comment from: Kathryn [Visitor] · http://kosmonaut.blogspot.com
Looks like a very interesting recipe. Milk and meat? Hmmm.
PermalinkPermalink 02/14/06 @ 19:19
Comment from: Dr. Biggles [Visitor] · http://www.meathenge.com
Yeah!

Mine is just nearly finished searing and getting ready for a slow oven.

This is going to be a great meal, I can just feel it.

Thank you Kate, thank you very much.

Biggles
PermalinkPermalink 02/16/06 @ 17:17
Comment from: Dr. Biggles [Visitor] · http://www.meathenge.com
Not only was the meal wonderful, but today we're making a pork pot pie out of the leftovers, yum. Fresh handmade lard for the crust!

Biggles
PermalinkPermalink 02/18/06 @ 13:09
Comment from: rokh [Visitor] · http://www.thamjiak.blogspot.com/
this recipe reminds me of Malaysia's meat recipe call Rendang which is meat cooked in coconut milk. i guess it works the same here, added with spices. now i know why rendang is always soft and good.
PermalinkPermalink 02/19/06 @ 12:22
Comment from: rebecca [Visitor]
I made this last night. Yumm!! ANd so easy to do.

I added a bay leaf near the end to add some depth to the sauce. Very delicious, though I agree that maybe a fattier cut of pork would be even better. The loin was oh-so-tender and was a little moist, but I wouldn't call it succulent or anything.

I served it with some boiled new potatoes and broccoli raab sauteed on olive oil and red pepper flakes.
PermalinkPermalink 02/20/06 @ 10:42
Comment from: Jace [Visitor] · http://confessionsofabutcher.blogspot.com
This recipe was in the back of my mind the last couple of days, so yesterday, when I cut a loin roast for a special order, I was left with the ribeye end and no way to sell it (I've got the other on sale). So I took it home and I'll be fixing this for dinner tonight. I think the loin should work OK, but I bet the rib roast will work much better because it's a more flavourful cut and has a little more fat so is slightly more bulletproof.
PermalinkPermalink 02/23/06 @ 05:38
Comment from: Jonathan Rhodes [Visitor]
I first tasted this 40 years ago in the Italian Alps and was lucky enough to persuade the chef to give me the recipe. Along with the black pepper, I add garlic granules, dried tarragon, dried mixed herbs, a little oregano and a couple of herby stock cubes (Oxo Italian Cubes are ideal for UK readers). After 40 years it remains my favourite 'party piece' with pork - guaranteed to stun your guests when they learn that this delicious creation was cooked in Milk!
PermalinkPermalink 04/23/06 @ 01:57
Comment from: karla Clark [Visitor]
Just back from the Amalfi Coast, where a wonderful cook named Antonella served us her version of this. She used a pork shoulder, and reduced a glass of white wine to a glaze before adding milk, and an onion for the pot. I happen to have a pork picnic roast in the house and am trying it for this recipe - with Antonella's wine and an onion in addition to the garlic and milk. By the way, her family prizes the sauce for this and uses leftovers on pasta the next night. Her tall nineteen year old son practically salivated as he described the treat ahead.
PermalinkPermalink 11/11/07 @ 13:26
Comment from: richard [Visitor] Email
Greg (and others) are correct about the fat and collagen breaking down to soften braises, but This will not happen until you have a solid internal temperature of 180f anything less and collagen is not going to denature. Also check out H. McGee's on food and cooking for more braising tips.
PermalinkPermalink 11/25/07 @ 10:02
Comment from: detta [Visitor] Email
I've made this for years, with the addition of 1/2 cup dry white wine and the onion (will try the bay leaf next time!). My recipe says it comes from Naples in 1928. It is definitely a showstopper. Pork fans also might like Diana Kennedy's Vietnamese Pork with Orange and Cilantro. Even though it has no milk, it is the braising of the pork that gives it the unctuous juiciness and smoothness. The fattier cuts are truly the answer to both these recipes.
PermalinkPermalink 01/09/08 @ 16:03

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