sorrel with pasta and pork

As a regular reader, you know how much I love our local farmers’ markets.  There’s always something new and interesting.  I have my favorite vendors I like to visit and one, in particular, is Offbeat Farm.  Sarah and Jamie are an energetic and enthusiastic couple and they love what they do – farm on less than one-half acre!  Last Saturday I picked up a bunch of their sorrel.  Jamie’s eyes lit up when I asked him what’s his favorite way to prepare it; on its own, in a salad, blanched where some of his recommendations.  I took a quick nibble from a leaf and because it’s a young crop, the taste was an explosion of a citrusy-tangy-sour mouthfeel.  I grabbed their last bag!

Sorrel’s lemony tang is perfect for the meal I had in mind.  I recently purchased a spaetzle maker and was going to make some spaetzle but it was getting close to supper time and wasn’t feeling quite up to the task (a recipe will follow, I promise).  So, instead, I cooked pasta while I prepared the sorrel and pork.  Dinner was ready in under 20 minutes!

sorrel with pasta and pork

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

Author: The Culinary Chase

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• ½ lb. minced pork
• 1 to 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 2 handfuls of sorrel, washed and roughly chopped
• 2 to 3 handfuls short shaped pasta (farfalle, penne, , , cavatelli, egg noodles)
• shaved Parmesan cheese (use a vegetable peeler)

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to packet instructions.
2. While pasta is cooking, grab a frying pan and over medium heat add minced pork and fennel seeds. If the pork is lean, you may need to add a bit of olive oil.
3. When pork is nearly cooked, add garlic. Stir to combine. Add sun-dried tomatoes and sorrel. Combine until sorrel has wilted slightly. By this time the pasta is ready to be added. Toss pasta until well incorporated.
4. Remove from heat and serve immediately with shaved Parmesan and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

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The Culinary Chase’s Note:  Use about 1/4 cup of the pasta water to loosen up the meat if it looks a bit dry.  Sorrel is lovely in soups, sauces, with eggs, fish, and cheese.  Enjoy!