Greek Pork and celery with egg lemon sauce, Hoirino me selino (Χοιρινό με σέλινο αυγολέμονο)

A conventional Greek recipe through which celery leaves and stalks are cooked together with pork and with the addition of a scrumptious avgolemono sauce (egg lemon sauce). The result’s an expensive stew from the Peloponnese area of Greece and which is a staple in the course of the fall and winter months.

It’s not usually {that a} two-bit character actor is forged in a number one function. It’s uncommon for a back-up singer to maneuver heart stage, and win a Grammy. It’s uncommon for a second-string quarterback to in some way lead the league in landing passes. And it’s stunning {that a} plain Jane vegetable, which is normally a part of a primary trio (suppose: saute onion, garlic and celery…), turns into the main focus of a whole, decadent meal. But this can be a celery Cinderella story, and I’m right here to inform it.

I like this recipe

Celery. Sure you may make a comforting cream of celery soup, or a crunchy celery based mostly salad, however on this recipe, celery is handled to gradual cooking care, elevating it to one thing grand. Here, celery, pork, and avgolemono (an egg-lemon sauce, the identical one utilized in avgolemono soup) mix to create a dish with sturdy flavours and delicate textures.

Growing up in a Greek residence we had this meal usually, particularly when the celery rising in our mother and father’ backyard was harvested. As kids, my sister Helen beloved this seasonal meal, which was usually ready within the late summer time and early fall, a time when celery is at its peak. I, alternatively, hated it virtually as a lot as I hated spanakorizo. In truth, when planning this publish with my mother and father, I vowed that I wouldn’t strive it, not a single chunk! But, how might I write about one thing I couldn’t describe? And so, I took a style..after which one other, and one other. Clearly, folks change and tastes evolve. The new verdict…even I agree, this meal is unbelievable!

Key elements

Celery Fresh celery (or celery that you’ve blanched and frozen) is the star of this recipe. It is greatest to search out celery stalks that also have the leaves connected. The leaves add a fragile flavour, and leafy texture that’s actually fantastic on this dish.

Pork My mother and father like to make use of pork tenderloin on this recipe, and so do I. It is lean, flavourful and cooks up actually tender. You can substitute totally different cuts of meat, which might be extra conventional. I clarify different choices, and learn how to make the swap, within the recipe itself and within the cooking ideas beneath.

Egg I take advantage of massive eggs to make my wealthy and frothy avgolemono sauce. I take advantage of each the egg whites and the egg yolk.

Lemon Fresh lemon juice at all times! It is so a lot better than something yow will discover pre-squeezed and in a bottle.

Onion I take advantage of yellow onion on this recipe – it’s simple to search out, cheap and has a light flavour.

Olive oil I saute my veggies in olive oil, and the olive oil stays within the last dish (that’s, it doesn’t get drained off). Of course, I solely use actual Greek olive oil.

Tomato sauce Typically I take advantage of my selfmade tomato sauce, made with my mother and father each Labour Day weekend! You could make this sauce every time ripe Roma tomatoes can be found and you may learn the way we do it right here. Otherwise, you should use high quality passata or strained tomato sauce.

Parsley Fresh flat leaf parsley provides flavour and extra leafy goodness to this meal.

Mint I take advantage of recent mint as a result of it enhances the lamb so nicely!

Vegetable oil I take advantage of vegetable oil to saute the pork tenderloin; this oil doesn’t make its method straight into the pot of meals, and I simply discover it an enormous cheaper to cook dinner my tenderloin in vegetable oil.

Salt & pepper Basic seasonings that elevate any dish! Add to your style.

How to make it

Step 1
Wash your celery nicely and separate the leaves from the stalks. Use a vegetable peeler to take away the stringy elements that run alongside the size of the celery stalks. Chop the stalks into 1 inch lengthy items. Chop up the leaves, additionally in about 1 inch lengthy items

Step 2
Bring a big pot of water to a boil. When the water is boiling, add the celery stalks and cook dinner over medium warmth for five minutes. Then, add the celery leaves to the pot and cook dinner for an extra 2 minutes. Drain and funky underneath chilly water. Set apart to empty once more.

Step 3
In one other massive pot add the three/4 cup olive oil and chopped onion. Cook over medium warmth for about 5 minutes till the onion is softened. Add the celery to the pot (accomplish that fastidiously as any water which stays on the celery may cause the recent oil to spatter). Mix nicely.

Step 4
To the pot add the 1 ¾ cup tomato sauce, the chopped parsley and mint, 6 cups water, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. There needs to be sufficient liquid to come back proper to the floor of the greens. If there may be not sufficient to get thus far, add extra water. Mix nicely.

Step 5
Cook the greens, over medium excessive warmth, with the pot coated, for about 1 hour 10 minutes. Stir often, and verify to ensure there may be nonetheless loads of liquid within the pot

Step 6
Meanwhile, slice the pork tenderloin into 1 inch thick slices. Sprinkle all sides with 1 teaspoon salt.

Step 7
Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan, including simply sufficient to coat the underside of the pan. Sear the pork tenderloin till evenly browned on either side, about 2 minutes per aspect. Avoid overcooking, as it can end cooking for one more 5 minutes within the saucepot. Since this can be a lean lower, it solely wants a brief cooking time.

Step 8
Add the pork tenderloin items to the pot with the celery. Add it to the highest and press down on the meat somewhat bit in order that it’s submerged within the cooking liquid. Cook for about 5 minutes. Check the pork for doneness by chopping into a chunk.

Step 9
Remove from warmth, and take about 1 cup of broth out of the pot and set it apart.

Step 10
Prepare the egg-lemon sauce. Separate the three eggs, and utilizing an electrical hand-held mixer (or a stand mixer), beat the egg whites till simply frothy. Add the yolks and proceed to beat. Slowly pour within the 1/2 cup lemon juice, whereas persevering with to beat the eggs. Then, take the broth you put aside (it ought to nonetheless be heat, simply not piping sizzling) and slowly pour it into the egg-lemon combination, whereas persevering with to beat it. This gradual incorporation of the recent liquid to the eggs, whereas they’re being overwhelmed, will stop curdling.

Step 11
Pour the egg-lemon combination again into the pot with the celery and pork. Shake the pot in order that the avgolemono will get evenly distributed all through.

Recipe substitutions

My mother and father like to make use of pork tenderloin on this recipe. This is a scrumptious solution to maintain the meal on the leaner aspect. Otherwise, and extra historically, pork loin or shoulder or pork butt are used. This will make the meal richer, and fattier. All these variations are scrumptious, however I’m comfortable to maintain issues lean every time potential, particularly when flavour isn’t sacrificed. If you’re skeptical about utilizing the tenderloin on this recipe, don’t be. It’s actually fairly nice.

If you like to not add the recent herbs to this meal you’ll be able to skip them, or one in every of them. I just like the flavour that each the parsley and mint add nonetheless, and extremely suggest it.

If you like to fry your pork tenderloin in olive oil, or one other kind of oil, go forward.

If you shouldn’t have selfmade tomato sauce, you should use high quality jar of strained tomatoes or tomato passata.

Cooking ideas

Alter cooking technique if utilizing one other lower of pork

I like utilizing pork tenderloin because it’s lean, however historically this dish is ready with pork shoulder. If you like, you’ll be able to substitute 2–3 kilos of pork shoulder, and alter the cooking technique barely. To put together the pork, lower it into cubes, season with salt and pepper, and sear the items in a splash of olive oil in a Dutch oven or massive pot till golden brown. Remove the pork, then proceed with Recipe Steps 3 and 4 in the identical pot. After that, return the pork to the pot and proceed with Step 5. The meat needs to be fork-tender when pierced; if it isn’t, let it simmer a bit longer. The remainder of the recipe (steps 9, 10, and 11) stays unchanged.

Find celery with the leaves nonetheless connected

Although you’ll be able to alter the cut of pork used, you can not alter the vegetable. Celery is the star right here, and can’t be changed by anything, and this recipe makes use of A LOT of celery! The celery cooks for a really very long time, remodeling it from its uncooked crunchy self to one thing very totally different, each in flavour and texture. My mother and father make this dish with celery from their backyard, which implies that they’ve each the stalk and the massive, wholesome leaves accessible. You can normally discover celery with leaves nonetheless connected at a farmers market, however they are typically fairly seasonal. In some locations…that season is now, so hurry up earlier than it’s too late!

Prep your celery correctly

Wash your celery and the leaves rather well. Also, take away the strings that run alongside the celery stalk utilizing a vegetable peeler. Even recent, tender celery stalks may gain advantage from having this stringy half eliminated. Trust me, it’s well worth the efforts (actually, it isn’t that a lot effort!).

Freeze extra celery for future use

My mother and father develop fairly a little bit of celery, an excessive amount of to make use of in a single meal. If you’re confronted with a whole lot of celery too, it can save you it for the longer term by freezing it. Simply put together your celery as described within the recipe. After it has blanched (been within the boiling water for a couple of minutes) you’ll be able to drain it and freeze it. Of course, this celery is not going to be excellent served with dip and rooster wings, however it’s good for meals the place it’s cooked, like this one.

Prevent the eggs from curdling

You will see that the instructions beneath instruct you to take away among the broth, set it apart to chill somewhat bit, after which add it slowly to the overwhelmed eggs and lemon used within the avgolemono. This is a important step as a result of for those who add the overwhelmed eggs straight into the very popular broth you danger having your eggs curdle.

Use recent lemons

Also essential for the avgolemono is to make use of stunning, recent lemons. Try to not substitute bottled lemon juice; it might be extra handy, and at instances, cheaper, however nothing beats the style of pure, freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Frequently requested questions

Do I’ve to make use of celery leaves on this recipe?

The fast reply is not any, you don’t must…however you actually ought to. The celery leaves are filled with flavour. They additionally add nice texture as they swirl round within the avgolemono sauce.

Where can I discover celery with leaves?

Depending on the place you’re on the planet, it might be somewhat troublesome so that you can discover celery with leaves. In North America, many of the celery grown and offered is from the Pascal cultivar; it’s gentle tasting and produces thick stalks. In Europe nonetheless (and in Greece) the celery is of a special selection, mostly chopping celery. This celery has thinner, extra fibrous stalks and is far more flavourful – far more herb-like that the frequent celery it’s possible you’ll be used to within the North American grocery retailer. It can be offered with the leaves connected. Cutting celery can be the kind of celery most individuals will develop of their gardens, as a result of it’s simpler to develop than the Pascal cultivar. If you can not discover celery with leaves in a house backyard or farmers’ market, one other place to look could be in a Mediterranean or Asian grocery retailer.

Can hoirino me selino avgolemono be frozen?

Freezing this meal as soon as it’s fully prepared isn’t excellent; the avgolemono sauce may have an altered texture after freezing. However, you may make this meal proper up till the purpose the place you add the avgolemono sauce and freeze than. To serve, thaw, reheat, add the avgolemono and revel in!

Storing and reheating

Leftovers will be saved within the fridge for as much as 3 days. To reheat, both place the meals in a microwave, or ideally, add to a pot and warmth over medium warmth till warmed by.

How to serve

Prepared correctly, this dish will resemble a stew; there shall be loads of wonderful liquid within the pot. You know what which means! Serve this meal with a pleasant loaf of crusty bread, good for dunking and wiping your plate clear. A conventional Greek village bread could be good, as would many recipes you can discover right here on this assortment of Best bread recipes.

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20 massive stalks of celery, with leaves
1 medium yellow onion chopped
3/4 cup olive oil
1 ¾ cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup parsley chopped
1/2 cup recent mint chopped
6 cups water
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 medium sized pork tenderloins See notes
1 tsp salt
vegetable oil for frying
3 massive eggs
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Wash your celery nicely and separate the leaves from the stalks. Use a vegetable peeler to take away any fibrous ribbing. Chop the stalks into 1 inch lengthy items. Chop up the leaves, additionally in about 1 inch lengthy items

20 massive stalks of celery, with leaves
Bring a big pot of water to a boil. When the water is boiling, add the celery stalks and cook dinner over medium warmth for five minutes. Then, add the celery leaves to the pot and cook dinner for an extra 2 minutes. Drain and funky underneath chilly water. Set apart to empty once more.
In one other massive pot add the three/4 cup olive oil and chopped onion. Cook over medium warmth for about 5 minutes till the onion is softened. Add the celery to the pot (accomplish that fastidiously as any water which stays on the celery may cause the recent oil to spatter). Mix nicely.

3/4 cup olive oil, 1 medium yellow onion
To the pot add the 1 ¾ cup tomato sauce, the chopped parsley and mint, 6 cups water, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. There needs to be sufficient liquid to come back proper to the floor of the greens. If there may be not sufficient to get thus far, add extra water. Mix nicely.

1 ¾ cups tomato sauce, 1/2 cup parsley, 1/2 cup recent mint, 6 cups water, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp pepper
Cook the greens, over medium excessive warmth, with the pot coated, for about 1 hour 10 minutes. Stir often, and verify to ensure there may be nonetheless loads of liquid within the pot
Meanwhile, slice the pork tenderloin into 1 inch thick slices. Sprinkle all sides with 1 teaspoon salt.

2 medium sized pork tenderloins, 1 tsp salt
Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan, including simply sufficient to coat the underside of the pan. Sear the pork tenderloin till evenly browned on either side, about 2 minutes per aspect. Avoid overcooking, as it can end cooking for one more 5 minutes within the saucepot. Since this can be a lean lower, it solely wants a brief cooking time.

vegetable oil for frying
Add the pork tenderloin items to the pot with the celery. Add it to the highest and press down on the meat somewhat bit in order that it’s submerged within the cooking liquid. Cook for about 5 minutes. Check the pork for doneness by chopping into a chunk.
Remove from warmth, and take about 1 cup of broth out of the pot and set it apart.
Prepare the egg-lemon sauce. Separate the three eggs, and utilizing an electrical hand-held mixer (or a stand mixer), beat the egg whites till simply frothy. Add the yolks and proceed to beat. Slowly pour within the 1/2 cup lemon juice, whereas persevering with to beat the eggs. Then, take the broth you put aside (it ought to nonetheless be heat, simply not piping sizzling) and slowly pour it into the egg-lemon combination, whereas persevering with to beat it. This gradual incorporation of the recent liquid to the eggs, whereas they’re being overwhelmed, will stop curdling.

3 massive eggs, 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Pour the egg-lemon combination again into the pot with the celery and pork. Shake the pot in order that the avgolemono will get evenly distributed all through.
Enjoy!

We like utilizing pork tenderloin because it’s lean, however historically this dish is ready with pork shoulder. If you like, you’ll be able to substitute 2–3 kilos of pork shoulder, although the strategy modifications barely. Steps 1 and a pair of stay the identical. Cut the pork into cubes, season with salt and pepper, and sear the items in a splash of olive oil in a Dutch oven or massive pot till golden brown. Remove the pork, then proceed with Steps 3 and 4 in the identical pot. After that, return the pork to the pot and proceed with Step 5. The meat needs to be fork-tender when pierced; if it isn’t, let it simmer a bit longer. Steps 9, 10, and 11 stay unchanged.