pork

Jamón Serrano

A spiral-cut ham seems right at home as the centerpiece of a hearty Easter meal. Of course, deliciously elegant substitutions exist, but why not have some fun with other kinds of cured or smoked pork? Ham, which comes from the hind thigh of the pig, is a cut revered internationally for its marbled fat content and complex flavors when cured, smoked, or cooked. So while picking up a prepared HoneyBaked ham is a perfectly acceptable option, consider giving these other options a try for some salty Easter goodness on a plate.

Black Forest ham

For some nontraditional Easter ham ideas, keep reading.

We're all about working smarter, not harder, so naturally we're smitten with Fresh Tart's ideas for transforming one meal into many different enticing treats throughout the week.

I've written before about the beauty of braising a pork shoulder one day, then crafting several meals from it as the week wears on. This version is more basic than the Pork Braised with Chiles & Cinnamon, which means you can eat it even more ways. Seasoned with onions, garlic, salt, and pepper, the finished roast can be eaten as is with its rich pan juices. (Mashed potatoes would be a perfect accompaniment.)

Then the next day you can warm some of the pork with hoisin sauce and roll it in lettuce leaves with rice, scallions, pickled vegetables or kimchi, and a dab of chile sauce. Or ginger scallion sauce. Oh my goodness YES.

Keep reading for two more ideas of how to make the most of a batch of braised pork shoulder and the recipe.

There's an easier method to marrying meats than constructing a turducken. For starters, try the combination of ground beef and ground pork. Ground beef — a key element in bolognese sauce, tacos, and meatballs — often needs aromatic vegetables, herbs, and spices to amplify its flavor. Ground pork, found in quick Asian stir-fries and breakfast sausages, is semisweet on its own but can be too rich and fatty. Combine the two together, and you have ground meat that's earthy and tender without tasting iron-like.

Try this trick for meatballs, meat sauces, stir-fries, and even chili: combine equal parts raw ground beef and ground pork in a bowl, using a large fork or your hands to mix the two together. Season with salt and pepper and sauté in a skillet over medium high, breaking up the pieces with a wooden spoon as the meat browns. Cook until no pink remains, about 10 minutes, adding beef stock or water if needed to deglaze the fond at the bottom of the pan. Add the meat to any recipe you see fit; we love it in Texas chili, stroganoff, or stuffed cabbage.

June may be all about grilling on YumSugar, but there's one noncharred dish that deserves a place next to its blackened counterparts: pork carnitas. While often deep-fried or oven-braised, this taco-truck staple is just as comfortable on its own as it is served beside carne asada and chorizo.

While preparations vary, my favorite incarnation of carnitas is fork-tender in the middle but encircled in a flavorful crust — a result of the aforementioned deep-frying technique or of the meat frying in its own rendered fat. Not the healthiest of taco options, but definitely worth the extra calories!

This recipe oven-braises the meat with fragrant seasonings before cooking off the liquid and basting the pork in the fat that remains at the bottom of the pan. Toppings are limited to your imagination, but I love the fresh, tangy flavor of salsa verde alongside sweet pickled red onions and salty cotija cheese. Serve up this delicious meat at your next taco bar gathering: it's sure to be a crowd favorite! Keep reading for this simple recipe.

Of all the crazy chocolates I've seen — among them, wasabi pea chocolate and soy-sauce-flavored Kit Kat — the most intriguing I tried was Xocolatl de David's Chicharrón Chocolate Bar. I loved the concept of crunchy mixed into smooth, savory blended with sweet, and yet I found myself wishing for more pork rind.

That's when I dreamt up my perfect chocolate snack: Chicharrónes, or deep-fried pig skins, halfway hand-dipped into semisweet chocolate. The result is simple perfection. Smoky, porky, cheese puff-like awesomeness commingled with just the right amount of smooth chocolate. Any omnivorous man (or woman) would be crazy not to love this. Get the recipe now.

With the demands of the holidays, these days when I make a weeknight dinner at home, it's got to be fast. An hour won't cut it — I want something on the table within minutes.

My first rule of thumb? Choosing a protein that cooks virtually instantly. Shrimp and thin fillets of fish always do the trick, but last night, I was in the mood for something heartier, like pork. The easiest way to make pork in a flash is to pound down some center-cut pork chops — it helps them cook quickly and evenly.

For a little textural contrast, I recommend breading them with panko or Italian bread crumbs, then making a quick mustardy pan sauce. Add a salad or sautéed greens, and dinner is served. See the recipe when you read ahead.