Pork Crown Roast with Pear Stuffing

Name: Pork Crown Roast with Pear Stuffing
Prep time: 45 min
Total time: 2 h 25 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 2 tbsp. brown sugar; 1 tbsp. freshly grated lemon peel; 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg; 3 tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary leaves; 2 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves; 1 pork crown roast; 8 oz. bacon; 2 medium red onions; 4 stalk celery; 2 pears; 1/2 c. dried tart cherries; 2 clove garlic; 10 c. country white bread; 2 c. turkey or chicken broth

By The Good Housekeeping Test KitchenPublished: Nov 7, 2013

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Kate Mathis

Yields:

Prep Time:

45 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs 25 mins

Cal/Serv:

785

This elegant pork crown roast is perfect for a Christmas dinner centerpiece.

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Ingredients

2 Tbsp.
brown sugar
1 Tbsp.
freshly grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp.
ground nutmeg
3 Tbsp.
chopped fresh rosemary leaves
2 Tbsp.
chopped fresh thyme leaves
1
pork crown roast
8 oz.
bacon
2
medium red onions
4
stalk celery
2
pears
1/2 cup
dried tart cherries
2
clove garlic
10 cups
country white bread
2 cups
turkey or chicken broth

Directions

1. Step 1In medium bowl, with fingers, rub together sugar, lemon peel, nutmeg, 1 tablespoon salt, 2 teaspoons pepper, 2 tablespoons rosemary, and 1 tablespoon thyme until well combined and fragrant; rub all over pork. Place pork on platter and wrap loosely in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
2. Step 2Arrange oven rack on bottom rung in oven. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
3. Step 3Arrange pork, rib side down, on rack fitted into foil-lined large roasting pan. Roast 45 minutes.
4. Step 4Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, cook bacon on medium-high 8 minutes or until browned and crisp, stirring occasionally. With slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper-towel–lined plate. Reduce heat to medium. To same skillet, add onions, celery, pears, cherries, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and remaining 1 tablespoon rosemary and 1 tablespoon thyme. Cook 8 to 10 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften, stirring and scraping up browned bits. Transfer to very large bowl along with bread, broth, and cooked bacon; toss until well combined. Transfer all but 4 cups stuffing to 3-quart baking dish.
5. Step 5After pork has roasted 45 minutes, remove from oven and turn pork rib side up on rack. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Place 4 cups reserved stuffing into center cavity of pork. Return pork to oven. Roast another 1 hour 30 minutes or until pork is cooked through (145 degrees F). Remove from oven. Cover loosely with foil. Let rest at least 20 minutes before slicing.
6. Step 6While pork rests, increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Bake stuffing in baking dish 20 minutes or until top is golden brown. Serve pork with stuffing. Garnish pork with pear slices and parsley leaves.