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Citrus Herb Pork from Zestuous

This tender pork rolled with bright herbs is only made better with a side of citrus gravy. When I mixed the pan drippings with orange juice, lemon juice and cream, I had no idea it would end up this tasty. The gravy is so good I could almost drink a glass of it.

I was watching the Food Network a couple of weeks ago and someone was preparing this amazing looking sandwich with a rolled stuffed pork butt. I don’t remember what show it was. I think maybe Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The featured chef didn’t provide the exact recipe. He just mentioned the herbs rolled inside the pork.

I quickly grabbed my iPhone and typed in all of the herbs, so I could try to re-create the dish. Instead of serving it with gravy, he sautéed the sliced meat in a pan with garlic and pepperoncinis and topped it with cheese. Then he slid it into a ciabatta roll.

After I cooked the pork, it looked so great when it came out of the oven, I skipped the sandwich-making plan and whipped up a gravy instead. I had a lemon and orange on hand since I used them for the zest, so I juiced them and added the juice to the drippings. A little cream to balance the acid and oh yeah baby! Dinner is ready.

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Citrus Herb Pork Shoulder

Ingredients 

  • 3-4 lb. boneless pork shoulder
  • olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. course black pepper
  • 1 tsp. dried parsley
  • 1 tsp. dried rubbed sage
  • 1 tsp. dried chopped rosemary
  • 1 tsp. fennel seed or ½ tsp. ground fennel
  • ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 2 lemons
  • 1 naval orange
  • more salt and pepper
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 T. butter
  • 2 T. flour
  • ¼ cup cream

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, combine minced garlic, salt, pepper, parsley, sage, rosemary, fennel, pepper flakes, zest of 1 lemon, zest of half an orange.
  • Using a sharp boning knife, cut a boneless pork shoulder into a flat piece. Place the knife at any point, begin cutting at a diagonal about an inch under the surface. Continue cutting until you have a flat piece of meat about an inch thick.
  • Drizzle the surface of the meat with olive oil. Rub in the oil and the spice mixture.
  • Roll the pork back up in the same direction it was originally. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie with string or butchers netting.
  • Place on a rack in a 13×9 pan. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 2-3 hours. After the first 30 minutes, add 1 cup of water to the pan. After another hour, add another cup of water to the pan.
  • Once cooked through (mine took 2 hours). Remove from the oven.
  • Remove the netting and cover with foil. Let it rest for at least 30 minutes.
  • To make the citrus gravy, add butter and flour to a saucepot. Stir over medium heat for about 5 minutes to make a roux.
  • Pour the drippings from the roasting pan into the saucepot. Add the juice of 2 lemons and one orange. Stir, until thickened. Add cream. Strain.
  • Slice the pork and serve with the citrus gravy.
    herb pork on plate with citrus herb sauce.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

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Christie Vanover

About Zestuous

Hi. I’m Christie, the head cook and award-winning competitive pitmaster for Team Girls Can Grill. I have won multiple grand championships and have dozens of top ten category finishes. People know me as the girl who is forever hovering over a grill, smoker or campfire with tongs in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.


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4 Comments

  1. I’ve been thinking about this recipe ever since I first saw it on Facebook. I finally made it today and it is so tender and flavorful. I must confess that I made it in the crock pot. I intended to make it as the recipe is written but something came up and I could not be home to watch the oven. I was surprised that the top browned in the slow cooker too.

    This recipe is definitely a keeper. Thank you! 🙂

    1. Thanks so much Amanda. I’m glad it worked out in the crock-pot. I’m going to have to try that on a busy work day.

  2. I was invited to share this meal and I can proud to say it was worth all the effort she put into preparing it. Great taste, appearance, tender and moist and I hope she prepares it again soon. 5 stars with all the trimmings for sure.