Cu-Pig's Arrow: 7 Porky Recipes To Show Your Affection This Valentine's Day

Feb 10, 2013 3:02 pm

Pork: The other sexy meat. We didn't make it up.

By Food Republic

It's true, pork is some sexy meat. If you hadn't heard the news that it's okay to serve it pretty darn close to medium, take heed: dry pork is not sexy pork. If it's juicy, succulent, beautiful pink you're going for, don't cook the living daylights out of it and ruin the brief moment between perfect pork chop and leather chew toy from hell. Speaking of perfect pork chops (and then some), check out our 7 sexiest recipes below for that oh-so-special someone on that special day coming up this week. That's right, we're not waiting til the last minute this year.

Cu-Pig's Arrow: 7 Porky Recipes To Show Your Affection This Valentine's Day

Cider-Brined Pork Chops with Maple-Bacon Chutney Recipe

Pork chops with everyone's favorite fall beverage

Rick Gresh is executive chef at David Burke's Primehouse in downtown Chicago. We're in full-on brining mode, but it's not just about salt water and poultry. Chef Gresh loaned us his recipe for a cider brine that will keep pork chops moist and succulent as well.

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Pulled Pork Belly Lasagna Recipe

Peach and cotija keep an Italian classic fresh

Chef Paula DaSilva of 1500°, Miami Beach's chic farm-to-table eatery, created this updated and deconstructed lasagna recipe using flavors from her native Brazil. Ever had pasta with peaches and cotija? Take a leap of faith.

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Pork Chops with Cherry Mustard Recipe

Not the standard pork chops, thanks to Jean-Georges

Cherries and mustard may sound like an unusual pairing, but they taste great together. Sweet, tart and hot, this sauce goes well with chicken and veal as well as pork.

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You start with a 2-lb. slab of pork belly. Then you braise and deep fry it. Need we say more?

Crispy Tamarind Pork Belly Recipe

Spice Market's Asian pork belly, right at home

Jean-Georges Vongerichten's NYC celeb-sighting spot Spice Market is known for its bold fusion cuisine. Tangy tamarind and hot red finger chilies elevate this long-overlooked cut of pork to fine dining status. You're in for a pork experience that's as tender, crispy and flavorful as you could ever hope for.

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Don't you want your pork roast to be memorable? Try this recipe

Fig-Stuffed Pork Roast Recipe

A pork roast with a figgy surprise

A stuffed roast is always impressive when sliced, but this one is nuts! Literally. Almonds, lots of figs and couscous. You can stuff this roast up to two days ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook. Then simply place it in the oven about two hours before you want to serve it.

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This Latin take on pork chops and apple sauce employs crunchy jicama slaw as a sidekick to juicy pork tenderloin.

Pork Tenderloin with Apple Jicama Slaw

A pork dish with a crunchy salad and shallot gravy

Miami's Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, located in the burgeoning Wynwood Arts District, features A-list street art and increasingly impressive food. This deeply satisfying main course, a pork tenderloin topped in a gravy thickened by caramelized shallots (rather than flour), is paired with crunchy apple jicama slaw for a clever crunch.

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Brined Pork Loin w/Caramelized Salsify

Perfectly brined pork loin = succulent tenderness

Brining has long been the professional chef’s secret method for keeping some of the leaner cuts of meat tender and moist. I find brining works great with pork loin, which is pleasantly mild, and in this simple recipe I add a bay leaf and peppercorns for a subtle flavor accent.