Maple Brined Pork Loin

Welcome to my first Holiday Recipe Club submission.  The ingredients I was to use for this Memorial Day challenge were watermelon (don't like), beer (don't drink), or pork (I can do that).

This is a recipe I found a few years ago on Chef John's blog Food Wishes.  Like all the other Chef John recipes I've tried, this one's a keeper.  Easy too.  Enjoy!

Maple-Brined Pork Loin

makes 4-6 servings

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 2-3 pound boneless pork loin roast

• 4 cups cold water

• 1/4 cup kosher salt

• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup (no substitutes)

• 2 cloves garlic, smashed

• 3-4 slices fresh ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary

• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper

• vegetable oil

Glaze:

• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Directions

1. In a container large enough to hold the brine and pork loin (I used a gallon size zipper top bag), combine the water, kosher salt, 1/3 cup maple syrup, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and rosemary; stir to dissolve salt completely.

2. Add the pork loin; refrigerate for 8-10 hours.

3. Remove loin from brine; discard brine.

4. Dry the roast very well with paper towels. Preheat the oven to 325F.

5. In an oven safe pan, over med-high heat, brown the pork loin on all sides.

6. Transfer pan to preheated oven; roast for a total of 20-25 minutes per pound.

7. Approximately 15 minutes before the roast is done, make the glaze by combining the Dijon and remaining maple syrup.

8. Reserve some glaze for garnish; brush the rest on the loin.

9. Continue roasting until the loin reaches an internal temperature of 155F.

10. Let the loin rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.

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Biscuits with Sausage Gravy

Want to show your family how much you love them?  Make them flaky buttermilk biscuits smothered in creamy sausage gravy.  Okay, I realize this is not a meal you should eat very often, but sometimes you need a little southern comfort and this dish is lick-your-plate-clean comfort food at its best!

Sausage Gravy

makes 3-4 cups (about 6 servings)

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound breakfast sausage, cooked (reserve fat drippings)

• 4 tablespoons fat (sausage or bacon drippings, melted butter)

• 4 tablespoons all purpose flour

• 2 cups whole milk

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon rubbed sage

• 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Directions

1. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, melt fat and add flour; whisking until until the mixture bubbles for a full minute. 

2. Add milk, salt, pepper, sage, and parsley; continue whisking until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens. 

3. Turn off heat and stir in cooked sausage. 

4. Serve over homemade Buttermilk Biscuits. 

Note

• The gravy will thicken as it cools - if needed, stir in a splash of milk to thin (works well when heating leftover gravy as well).