Beer Braised Pork Ragu

Monday, August 20, 2012

Beer Braised Pork Ragu

Posted by Cassie / 64 comments » / Main Dishes, Pork

We are on the homestretch of our #TomatoLove Recipe exchange with IJM and Recipe for Change! This week we are talking favorites and slow cookers. And you’ll have your chance to share your absolute favorite tomato recipe with us, or one that uses a slow cooker, for a chance to win a new 6-quart slow cooker from Hamilton Beach!

I am a fan, though, of beer. Local beer, that is. Boulevard Pale Ale to be exact. This is a pretty common staple in our fridge and even more than I love to drink it, I love to put it in my food.

I don’t know what the weather is like in your neck of the woods but in Kansas City we have had an amazing break from the heat. This break makes for brisk mornings and breezy evenings. These making me crave fall. Fall means hoodies, house slippers, football, hot tea, and slow cookers. And I couldn’t think of anything better to put in my new Hamilton Beach slow cooker than beer and a pork butt. I have always been a fan of pulled pork, as in BBQ pulled pork.

I’ve never been fantastic at cooking pork. Usually Paul will take it on by smoking a tenderloin or grilling chops. I decided, though, with some Pale Ale in hand, that I could tackle it. And surprisingly, it turned out smoky, spicy and full of flavor. At the last minute, I decided to add some chipotle peppers and they were the perfect addition and contrast to the sweet tomatoes and onions.

With some potatoes added, this could almost be served as a soup, or over pasta, but I loved the way the rice leveled out the spice of the braised pork ragu sauce.

There is still time for you to take action with IJM’s Recipe for Change! You can ask your favorite supermarkets to stock slave-free tomatoes by signing the Fair Food Pledge. I have been blown away with the support that Ali and I have received from this community for this cause. It’s so important to educate others on how we can make a difference – not just this summer – but all the time. So get your beer braised pork ragu going in your slow cooker, and then visit IJM’s Resource page to learn more, and get involved!

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Beer Braised Pork Ragu

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 4-6 hours

Total Time: 4-6 hours

Slow cooker recipe for beer-braised pork ragu. Pork butt is braised in a broth of beer and stock surrounded by chipotle peppers, onions, garlic and tomatoes.

Ingredients:

1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 pound pearl tomatoes, quartered
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 cup chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped (3-4 peppers)
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. olive oil
2-3 pound pork butt, excess fat trimmed, at room temperature for 30 minutes
Salt & pepper
12 ounces beer
1 cup ounces chicken stock
1 Tbs. tomato paste
2 tsp. soy sauce
2 cups Jasmine rice

Directions:

In the crock of a 6-quart slow cooker, evenly place the onions, tomatoes, garlic, chipotle peppers, peppercorns, thyme, oregano, paprika and salt.

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Season the pork with salt and pepper and sear on each side, about 3-4 minutes.

Place the pork inside the slow cooker. Pour in the beer, chicken stock, soy sauce and tomato paste. Nestle the pork down into the liquid. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours.

Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Place the shredded pork back in to the slow cooker. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the cilantro. Reduce the temperature to low and keep warm.

Meanwhile, cook the rice according to package directions. Serve the cooked pork over the rice.

Cassie's Notes:
Feel free to add any extra veggies that you have on hand.

Also, you don't have to trim the fat from the pork, I just prefer to do it that way.

If the broth is too spicy for you, add a couple of teaspoons of sugar to level out the heat.

Hamilton Beach is giving away a Set and Forget 6-quart Cooker! Before I received this slow cooker, I had one that I had received in college, it had two settings and a lid that didn’t fit very well. This one is majorly different – with a digital display that can be programmed by time/heat level, or by using the temperature probe. The probe displays the temperature as the meat cooks. The lid has clips on both sides to ensure there is no spilling involved. The slow cooker heated up very quickly and cooked my pork butt extremely evenly. The crock is removable which makes clean up super simple!

Don’t forget to visit Hamilton Beach at on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Cindy who shared Shrimp Creole!

~~How To Participate In The Tomato Love Recipe Exchange: for a chance to win a 6-Quart Slow Cooker from Hamilton Beach. (a $60 value)~~

~~Write and post a recipe on your blog featuring your FAVORITE tomato recipes or SLOW COOKER tomato recipes.~~
Include the following in your blog post: Come share in the tomato love at the Tomato Love Recipe Exchange, hosted by Gimme Some Oven & Bake Your Day, sponsored this week by Hamilton Beach. Also visit Recipe for Change to learn more about how to support tomato farmers.
~~No blog? Just leave your recipe in the comments section.~~
~~Add your link to the InLinkz widget below (we have the same widget code, so only add it on one site).~~
~~Submit your post before Sunday August26, 11:59pm CST.~~
~~Anyone can participate in the link up, but the prizes will ship to US addresses only.~~
~~More detailed info is available here. There are ways to earn additional entries, make sure to come back to this post and leave a comment for each entry that you complete.~~

~~Additional Entries For Everyone!~~

~~You can earn up to three additional entries by doing each of the following, but you must leave a comment below saying that you have done so.~~

~~Twitter: Tweet the following: Join @bakeyourday & @gimmesomeoven in the #tomatolove recipe exchange, celebrating tomato farmworkers & recipes #r4c – http://bit.ly/QfHAJq~~
~~Instagram: Instagram a photo of your submitted recipe(s) with the following text: “I just shared (your recipe’s name) in the #TomatoLove Recipe Exchange.”~~
~~Pinterest: Pin any image from this post, inviting people to participate in the recipe exchange. Use the #TomatoLove hashtag.~~

Disclaimer: This giveaway is being sponsored by Hamilton Beach. I received the product described to review. I was not compensated in any other way and as always, all opinions are my own. This giveaway will be open until Sunday, August 26. The prize winner will be chosen at random using www.random.org. The winner will be notified and will have three days to respond before another winner is chosen. Contest is open to US residents only. For my full site disclosure, click here. This post contains affiliate links.

Posted by Cassie on August 20, 2012

64 Comments »

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64 Responses to “Beer Braised Pork Ragu”

1

Carrie @ bakeaholic mama — August 20, 2012 @ 6:41 am

Any type of meat braised in beer is scrumptious! This looks amazing Cassie!
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 8:51 am
  
  Thanks Carrie! I agree – we cook with beer (and wine, and whiskey) all the time!
2

Vicki Bensinger — August 20, 2012 @ 6:43 am

I can’t believe I don’t have a slow cooker. I borrowed my moms not too long ago for a pot luck fall soup picnic the neighborhood was having but gave it back. How great that yours comes with a meat thermometer – genius idea.

I love that your recipe uses chipotles in adobo sauce. Those make everything taste better.

We just came back from the mountains missing all the Midwest heat and now st louis is experiencing the same cool weather KC is having. It already feels like fall. Yippee! My favorite time of year. Great post, great cause, nice giveaway!
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 8:53 am
  
  I use mine all the time, especially going into the fall! Have fun in St. Louis, you are so close to my neck of the woods!
3

Rachel Cooks — August 20, 2012 @ 6:44 am

Mmmm….beer. This looks fantastic!
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 8:54 am
  
  Thanks Rach!
4

Laurie {Simply Scratch} — August 20, 2012 @ 7:05 am

Did somebody say beer… and braised… and pork!? YUM!
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 8:54 am
  
  Oh yes, beer-braised is the only way to go!
5

megan @ whatmegansmakin — August 20, 2012 @ 7:16 am

beautiful pictures! I can never make pork look good on a plate, but this looks like it is delicious!
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 8:48 am
  
  Thanks so much Megan, that made my day. I was so frustrated with these photographs!
6

Rachel @ Baked by Rachel — August 20, 2012 @ 7:50 am

Cooking with beer gives so much fun flavor.
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 8:58 am
  
  Yes, I love it!
7

Bev @ Bev Cooks — August 20, 2012 @ 8:28 am

OMG, I’m so ready for fall too. I have my door open and there are NO CICADA killers out there. It’s cool, and I can hear the marching band practicing in the distance. How ’bout you just pour this down my throat already?
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 8:59 am
  
  Bring on the marching bands! Yes, so ready!
8

Anna — August 20, 2012 @ 8:44 am

I love my slow cooker and neeeed to pull it out more. And put more beer in it
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 9:00 am
  
  Yes you do!
9

Vicki Bensinger — August 20, 2012 @ 9:02 am

I just drove through KC. Which Suberb are you in? I went to KU umpteen years ago and then lived in KC for a few years out of college. I have lots of friends there. I knew you were from the Midwest when you said “in my neck of the woods.”
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 9:05 am
  
  Haha! That is hilarious Vicki! I say that all the time and never thought about it being a “Midwest” thing! We live in downtown Kansas City!
10

Jennifer @ Mother Thyme — August 20, 2012 @ 10:07 am

Awesome recipe! I have been on a bit of a slow cooker kick lately and the weather is the same here as it is for you in KC so it is getting me in the fall mood.
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 3:32 pm
  
  I can’t wait to see some slow cooker recipes from you this fall!
11

Michelle — August 20, 2012 @ 10:48 am

I’m falling in love with my crock all over again; not for dinners, but for making lunch overnight so I have a great meal to pack up and take with me to work. So good! Beer braised anything is so tasty!
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 3:36 pm
  
  that is such a great idea!
12

Sues — August 20, 2012 @ 12:00 pm

There’s seriously nothing better than beer-braised meat. This both looks and sounds incredible and has be seriously questioning why I don’t have a crockpot!
- Cassie replied: — August 20th, 2012 @ 3:36 pm
  
  Me too! I hope you enter our giveaway!
13

Erin @ Texanerin Baking — August 20, 2012 @ 12:22 pm

Oh yum. I love slow cooked anything! And with beer? That’s something I’ve never tried I don’t like beer, but love beer bread, so I guess I could like it. Either way, it looks great.
14

Gina @ Running to the Kitchen — August 20, 2012 @ 12:46 pm

This makes me feel better about posting a “fallish” recipe today too. Bookmarking this for fall. I can never seem to get pork right either but this one looks pretty foolproof
15

claire @ the realistic nutritionist — August 20, 2012 @ 12:50 pm

I am SO GLAD you went the ragu route. Totally worth it:)
16

Julia {The Roasted Root} — August 20, 2012 @ 1:22 pm

What a wonderful woman you are! I have a pork butt in the freezer that has this recipe written all over it! My boyfriend is obsessed with pork and we’re pretty tight with our crock so this recipe is right up our alley. Thanks lady!
- Cassie replied: — August 21st, 2012 @ 1:12 pm
  
  I hope he likes it, my hubs loved it!
17

Laura (Tutti Dolci) — August 20, 2012 @ 2:53 pm

Beer-braised meat is the best! This looks so tasty and perfect for cooler days (and football season!).
18

Ashley@BakerbyNature — August 20, 2012 @ 3:15 pm

Beer and pork bootie? I’m in! If I’m ever in KC, I’ll be inviting myself over for dinner
19

leslie — August 20, 2012 @ 4:11 pm

Mmmmmmm.anything , especially pork braised in beer has to be divine!
20

Gerry @ Foodness Gracious — August 20, 2012 @ 4:39 pm

Pork braised in beer, I really don’t know what to say…I can only imagine the smell (I hope you had some extra beer)
Awesome!
- Cassie replied: — August 21st, 2012 @ 1:13 pm
  
  Definitely did, Boulevard is always stocked in our fridge!
21

Jenna@LittleKitchenBigFlavors — August 20, 2012 @ 5:02 pm

What a great idea for pork in the crockpot. I am always looking for new ones, especially with fall right around the corner. And I love craft beer recommendations! I’ll be looking out for Boulevard Pale Ale at our local beer store!
22

Jen @ Savory Simple — August 20, 2012 @ 6:07 pm

I’m ready for fall! My boots are begging me to wear them every time I open the closet. This looks deeeeeeeelicious.
23

Julie @ Table for Two — August 20, 2012 @ 7:09 pm

we’ve had some amazing break from the heat too!! i’m loving it. this pork braised in beer is totally up jason’s alley! he would LOVE this dish!
24

Baking Serendipity — August 20, 2012 @ 8:31 pm

I love cooking with beer and with my slow cooker. This looks so good…and definitely makes me ready for fall!
25

Mercedes@Satisfy My Sweet Tooth — August 20, 2012 @ 8:48 pm

This looks great Cassie, my husband would love it! We have been having much cooler weather too and it feels so good!
26

Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious — August 21, 2012 @ 12:20 am

I’m not much of a beer person but I love cooking with it! And this dish is blooming with just so much flavor! Can’t wait to give this a try, Cassie!
27

Joanne — August 21, 2012 @ 7:11 am

Fall and slow cookers definitely go hand in hand in my opinion! And this pork ragu is definitely fabulous to celebrate the incoming season!
28

Ali @ Gimme Some Oven — August 21, 2012 @ 8:28 am

Ooooh girl — this looks AMAZING!!! Way to put that slow cooker to good use!
29

sarah — August 21, 2012 @ 9:53 am

Wow… this looks fantastic! Wishing our weather was cooling down but bookmarking this for when it does!!
30

Cathy @ Noble Pig — August 21, 2012 @ 9:58 am

Oh wow, looks fantastic nd has me excited for Fall!
31

Nutmeg Nanny — August 21, 2012 @ 10:07 am

This looks great! Pork is one of my favorite proteins. So good!
32

Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic — August 21, 2012 @ 10:31 am

I love beer braised anything. This is making me hungry!
33

Jackie @ The Beeroness — August 21, 2012 @ 12:59 pm

Look at you cooking with beer! I’m so proud. Looks fantastic
- Cassie replied: — August 21st, 2012 @ 1:14 pm
  
  I thought you might be!
34

Brandy — August 21, 2012 @ 1:10 pm

Currently in my crockpot (no blog, but I’ll fb post it!):

Cuban Style Black Beans & Rice

2 cups brown rice
1 bag black beans, soaked overnight
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, diced
2 large tomatoes, diced
2 tsp. cumin
4 garlic cloves, diced
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 bay leaves
1 tsp. oregano
Cilantro & corn tortillas for the plate!
Can also add shredded chicken or keep it veggie-friendly!

All items in the crock pot. Add 4 cups of water. On low for 6ish hours. Plate and add healthy portions of cilantro and possibly a squeeze of lime. I’m thinking to serve up with mojitos? Oh yes!
- Cassie replied: — August 21st, 2012 @ 1:14 pm
  
  This sounds wonderful, right up my alley!!
35

Brandy — August 21, 2012 @ 1:12 pm

tweeted: https://twitter.com/brandylwilson/status/237975314502918144
36

Brandy — August 21, 2012 @ 1:13 pm

https://www.facebook.com/fosterbrandy10/posts/509385612420587 (fb posted as well, even though you didn’t ask to, just thought I’d get the word out that way, too. Plus, I wanted to share my recipe!)
37

Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts — August 21, 2012 @ 7:04 pm

I just cooked a beef roast in a crockpot with beer last week – so good! I have this crockpot, and love it; perfect for the fall season coming up.
38

Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. — August 21, 2012 @ 10:25 pm

This looks so amazing, Cassie!! And in the crockpot, the meat must be so perfectly tender!!!
39

Shawn @ I Wash...You Dry — August 21, 2012 @ 10:49 pm

Looks so good. It’s still blazing fireballs here, but cooking in a crock pot is very appealing so I don’t have to stand over the stove. Love this!
40

Anne@FromMySweetHeart — August 21, 2012 @ 10:54 pm

This ragu looks fabulous, Cassie! I bet the beer gave a sweet richness to this dish. I’m so glad you enjoyed your new slow cooker and I am glad that the real slow cooker season is finally upon us! : )
41

Kiran @ KiranTarun.com — August 22, 2012 @ 1:00 am

Anything cooked with beer in a crock pot would definitely taste divine. Slow cooking definitely has its benefits
42

Ramona — August 22, 2012 @ 7:26 pm

Now that’s one hearty dish!! Looks fantastic.
43

Rachel — August 24, 2012 @ 5:49 pm

Yummy! I love cooking with beer! I just recently started it, and I’m definitely wanting to try more recipes with beer, including yours!
44

Tessa — August 24, 2012 @ 10:46 pm

I miss Boulevard! We used to live in Nebraska (and would get it all the time), but now that we’re in AZ, they don’t ship it this far.

This dish looks like a great use of the beer by the way!
45

Tomato Love Finale & Recipe Roundup — August 27, 2012 @ 7:25 am

[...] Roasted Poblano Peppers Creamy Southwest Pasta with Spicy Greek Yogurt Sauce Spinach Salad Pizza Beer-Braised Pork Ragu Smoky Tomato, Roasted Red Pepper & Arugula [...]
46

Cindys Recipes — August 27, 2012 @ 9:33 pm

Hi Ladies!
Thanks for hosting #Tomatolove and Thank you so much for picking my entry for the slow-cooker! I saw a comment on my blog but I can’t find any other notification I’m still looking to send my info to you!
I can’t wait to try it!
Cindy
47

danielle — September 1, 2012 @ 9:23 am

This look amazing – I cant wait to try it. I featured this recipe in my “What I Bookmarked This Week” post today. Stop by and see!
48

gimme some oven | Tomato Love Recipe Exchange Finale | gimme some oven — November 12, 2012 @ 4:25 am

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