Martha Stewart's Slow-Cooker Italian-Braised Pork

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  • 4
  • 15 mins
  • 240 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
  • 3/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
  • Cooked polenta, for serving
  • Finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, for serving

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat a 5-to 6-quart slow cooker.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Season pork with salt and pepper. Cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer pork to the slow cooker.
Reduce heat to medium; add onion, garlic, celery, and fennel seeds to skillet; cook until onion is softened, about 4 minutes. Add wine. Cook, scraping up browned bits with a wooden spoon, until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add to slow cooker along with tomatoes. Cover and cook on high until pork is very tender, 4 hours (or on low for 8 hours).

Transfer pork to a cutting board. Using two forks, shred meat into bite-size pieces, discarding any large pieces of fat. Skim fat off sauce. Return shredded pork to slow cooker and stir to combine. Serve over polenta, sprinkled with cheese.