Apple Braised Pork with Whole Wheat Spätzle

For the pork:
A two-pound pork shoulder roast, cut in half
A splash of vegetable oil
Two or three sliced onions
Six or eight slices of diced bacon
Four apples, cored and cut into large chunks
Two cups or so of applesauce
A few cups of chicken broth
A couple of chopped carrots
Half a bottle of white wine
A few heaping spoonfuls of grain mustard
Two or three bay leaves
A pinch of salt
A few turns of the peppermill

For the spätzle:
4 eggs
1 cup of milk
3 cups of whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
Pepper to taste
Pinch of ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons of butter

For the pork:

Place a large Dutch oven or stew pot over medium-high heat with enough oil to coat the bottom. Carefully add the pork roast to the hot oil and brown well on all sides.  Be patient! This is the only opportunity you’ll have to add the rich flavours of browned meat to the dish before the liquids are added and lower the temperature. When the roast is evenly browned set it aside for a few minutes. Drain off the fat then add the bacon and onions. Cook, stirring frequently until the bacon and onions are nicely browned, about fifteen minutes.

Return the pork roast to the pot. Add the apples, applesauce, chicken broth, carrots, wine, mustard and bay leaves. Season well with salt and pepper. Bring the works to a simmer, place a tight fitting lid on the pot and reduce the heat to low. Simmer slowly until the meat is very tender, about two hours.


For the spätzle:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rapid boil.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.  Add the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper and nutmeg and stir vigorously until the mixture forms a smooth elastic batter.

Using a rubber spatula carefully push the batter through the holes of a colander or the large holes of a box grater into the boiling water.  The spätzle will cook quickly; you’ll know when it’s done as the noodles will float! Scoop out with a slotted spoon and set aside.  Continue in this manner until all of the batter has been cooked.

Heat the butter in a large non-stick frying pan until it begins to foam.  Add the spätzle in small batches, frying until golden brown.