Pork Stew with Mashed Potatoes

Stew! Just the perfect thing to eat on a cold, spring day. This year it was oddly warm in February and then suddenly freezing in late March. This pork stew warms you up to your bones.

In this stew, the earthy taste of the pork and potatoes perfectly contrasts with the brightness of the tomato and acidity in the stew that beckons warmer days of spring and summer.

For presentation, I made a bed of mashed potatoes and layered the stew on top for even flavoring.

This recipe is essentially a cheaper version of beef stew. Sans shallots, beef, and expensive red wine, pork stew is a better choice for beginners to experiment with. In addition, this one-pot recipe is straight forward and easy to make. By layering the potatoes on top of the stew before mashing them, they are cooked and are flavorful and eliminates the need to use a second pot.

Pork Stew with Mashed Potatoes

Serves 4
Takes 3 hours

Ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 pound pork sirloin, cut in 1-inch cubes and dusted with flour

1 large onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup chicken broth

2 cups water

1 cup broccoli

1 cup carrots, chopped

1/2 cup celery, chopped

1 large tomato, cut in quarters

1 teaspoon rosemary

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 cups potatoes, cut in half

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon milk

Salt and pepper

Method

1. Pour the oil in a deep pot and sear the edges of the pork cubes. Add in the onion and garlic and fry until onions are yellowed, then cover with a lid for 2 minutes.
2. Put in the broccoli, carrots, celery, tomato, rosemary, and sauces, then cover with chicken broth and water. Mix and then place the potatoes on top. Make sure to cover roughly 2/3 of the ingredients with liquid. Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer with the lid covered for 30-40 minutes.
3. When the centers of the potatoes are soft, remove from the stew and mash them with butter and milk. Season the stew and potatoes with salt and pepper. Continue to cook the stew for another 40-50 minutes.
4. Serve stew over mashed potatoes.