Espresso-Braised Pork Shoulder

1. 1

   Dry pork shoulder and cover with rub mixture. Let sit, covered, in refrigerator for ~8 hours or overnight.

2. 2

   Preheat oven to 325.

3. 3

   Place a 5 qt. Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add 2 T. oil. When the oil's hot, throw in the shoulder and brown on all sides (a total of 10-12 minutes). The meat will get extra-dark due to the espresso; don't worry if it looks almost blackened.

4. 4

   Remove pork and reduce heat to medium. Add in the rest of the oil if necessary and saute the onions until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and saute, stirring, for another minute. Slowly stir in espresso, scraping up brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in brown sugar, ground chili, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer and add pork shoulder.

5. 5

   After boiling for a minute, put the lid on and transfer to oven. Let braise for at least 2-1/2 hours, turning shoulder at least once.

6. 6

   Take the shoulder out of the oven and set on a plate. At this point the meat should nearly fall off the bone. Tent with foil and let rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, stir in butter and flour to the liquid in the Dutch oven and simmer for 5 minutes to make a sauce.

7. 7

   That's it! There's plenty of time to drink some wine and make a side dish or two while the meat braises. I haven't mastered the art of serving this yet, but putting the pork on some good crusty bread to make sandwiches is always an option.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.