Pork and Fennel Casserole ... a touch of the Mediterranean

Why not unwind with a Mediterranean-flavoured casserole of pork, chorizo and fennel, a very nice combination of flavours ...

Ingredients:

Serves Four
2 tsp olive oil
1kg/2lbs 2oz pork shoulder, cut into large cubes
200g/7oz chorizo, cut into chunks
1 onion, sliced
1 fennel bulb, finely sliced
250ml/9fl oz. chicken stock
2 lemons, zest and juice
1 x 400g/14oz can chickpeas
100g/3½oz large pitted green olives
1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

To serve:
wilted spinach

Method:
1. Heat two tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan and fry the pork shoulder until golden-brown on all sides. Remove the pork from the pan and set aside.
2. Add the chorizo to the pan and fry until crisp around the edges, remove from the pan and set aside.
3. Reduce the heat to medium and fry the onion and fennel for five minutes, or until softened.

4. Return the pork and chorizo to the pan, then pour over the stock, add the lemon juice and zest, cover and cook slowly on a low heat for two hours, or until the pork is very tender.
5. Add the chickpeas and olives and cook for a further 15 minutes.
6. Stir in the parsley and serve with wilted spinach.

From an original recipe here

Did you know - Chickpeas are a small legume popular in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Indian cookery. They are usually sold pre-cooked in cans, or dried; the latter must be soaked before cooking. Chickpea, besan or ‘gram’ flour, made from dried ground chickpeas, is widely used in Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine. If buying dried chickpeas, look for firm examples with a uniform beige colour. Choose canned chickpeas stored in water, rather than brine. Dried chickpeas can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to one year without deterioration. Cooked chickpeas can be frozen.

We bring a variety of recipe ideas and articles to this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan