Cocoa Pork Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, toast white peppercorns and coriander seeds until they begin to pop. Remove from heat and grind to fine powder in a spice mill or coffee grinder. Mix the ground pepper and coriander with remaining spices, cocoa and salt.
• Trim the pork tenderloins of fat and silver skin. Rub with a generous amount of the cocoa spice rub. Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat until hot but not smoking. Sear each tenderloin on all sides until a rich brown color, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove tenderloins from heat and finish in the oven for about 10 minutes or until cooked through.
• Let the tenderloins rest out of the oven for at least 10 minutes before carving.
• Extra cocoa spice rub will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, add the cocoa, sugar, orange zest, black pepper, and clove. Combine well to form a rub. Coat the pork with oil and sprinkle with the salt. Smear the cocoa rub all over the pork shoulder. Add the onion quarters and pork to a large dish and pour orange juice and red wine vinegar over the pork. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 12 hours to marinate.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle. Let pork sit a room temperature while oven heats up, at least 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove pork from marinade and dry well. Put the pork in a clean, dry roasting pan, and roast until the skin is browned, about 30 minutes. Reduce the oven to 325 degrees F, scatter onions from the marinade around the pork and roast until the internal temperature registers 155 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 2 to 2 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Transfer the pork to a cutting board and cover loosely with foil. Allow the roast to rest for 15 to 30 minutes before carving.
• Slice between the meat and cracklings and lift the crackling off in 1 piece. Cut the crackling into pieces, so they're easier to eat. Carve meat downward and against the grain and arrange on a platter. Spoon pan juices and onions over the meat and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat a pellet grill smoker according to the manufacturer's instructions to 225 degrees F.
• Grind up the cocoa nibs, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds and cloves in a blender until evenly ground. Mix this spice mixture with the salt, brown sugar, chile powder, onion powder, cinnamon, allspice and garlic powder in a bowl.
• Rub about 3/4 cup of the spice mix on the pork tenderloins. Smoke the pork until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F, about 1 hour. Let rest about 5 minutes before slicing.
• For the finishing sauce: Add the vinegar, rum, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, garlic, chile and orange zest and juice to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, then puree until smooth. Keep warm until ready to serve.
• For the cocoa nibby grits: To a large saucepan add the chicken stock, olive oil and 2 cups water and bring to a simmer. Add the grits and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the butter, cream, bittersweet chocolate and 1/4 cup cocoa nib spice mixture until fully combined. (Keep any remaining spice mixture in a container with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dry place.)
• For serving: Pour the grits into a very large serving bowl. Top with the sliced pork, Cotija, finishing sauce, cilantro sprigs and a squeeze of lime.

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• For the sauce: Heat the oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook until the onion is tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in the cocoa powder. Add the broth, rosemary, vinegar and tomatoes. Bring the sauce to a simmer. Cover the pan. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the pan from the heat.
• For the pork: Whisk the cocoa powder, allspice, dark brown sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl to blend.
• Place the pork on a heavy nonstick baking sheet. Rub the allspice mixture over the pork. Drizzle with olive oil and roast until a thermometer inserted into the center of the pork registers 145 degrees F, 25 to 30 minutes. Tent loosely with foil and let rest 10 minutes.
• Cut the pork crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange the slices on a platter. Spoon the sauce over the pork and serve.