PEPPERCORN PORK BUTT w/VERMOUTH SAUCE

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  • 8

Ingredients

  • SERVES 8
  • 6 tablespoons pink peppercorns, divided
  • 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fennel seeds
  • 7 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 (5-lb) boneless pork shoulder roast (butt end)
  • 1/2 cup dry vermouth
  • 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • EQUIPMENT: an electric coffee/spice grinder

Preparation

Step 1

Grind 1/4 cup pink peppercorns with black peppercorns and fennel seeds in grinder, then stir together with garlic, oil, and 1 Tbsp salt.

Pat pork dry and use a paring knife to make about 16 (1-inch-deep) slits all over roast. Stuff slits with all but 1 Tbsp garlic-peppercorn paste, then rub remaining Tbsp all over roast. Put in a small (13- by 9-inch) flameproof roasting pan and marinate, chilled, 8 to 24 hours.

Let pork stand at room temperature 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350F with rack in middle.

Roast pork, fat side up, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of meat registers 150F, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Transfer pork to a cutting board and let rest 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, pour off all but about 1 Tbsp fat from roasting pan. Add vermouth to pan and boil, scraping up brown bits, 2 minutes. Stir in broth, any meat juices from cutting board, and remaining 2 Tbsp pink peppercorns and boil until reduced to about 11/2 cups, about 5 minutes.

Knead together butter and flour, then whisk into sauce and boil, whisking constantly, until just slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.

Serve pork with sauce.