Stuffed Crown Roast of Pork is for the true multi-taskers at heart. Simultaneously you manage to feed a crowd, impressive the heck out of them with a gorgeous presentation as well as blow-your-mind flavor and succulence, and do it all while saving some serious coin.
STUFFED CROWN ROAST OF PORK
PREP TIME: 1 hour, to marinate
COOK TIME: 1 to 2 hours
RECOMMENDED PELLETS: Any
SERVES: 8 to 10
INGREDIENTS
1 crown roast of pork, 12 to 14 ribs (8 to 10 pounds)
1 cup apple cider or juice
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh thyme or rosemary, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
8 cups of your favorite stuffing, prepared according to package directions, or homemade
Cranberries or kumquats for garnish (optional)
Fresh herbs for garnish (optional)
PREPARATION
Set the pork on a flat rack in a shallow roasting pan. Cover the end of each bone with a small piece of foil.
Make the marinade: Bring the apple cider to a boil over high heat and reduce by half.
Remove from the heat, and whisk in the vinegar, mustard, brown sugar, garlic, thyme, and salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the oil and mix until it's all incorporated.
Using a pastry brush, apply the marinade to the roast, coating all surfaces.
Cover it with plastic wrap and allow it to sit until the meat comes to room temperature, about 1 hour. (Or you can brush the marinade on the roast and return it, covered, to the refrigerator until ready to cook. Let the meat warm to room temperature before putting it on the grill.)
When ready to cook, start the Traeger grill on Smoke with the lid open until the fire is established (4 to 5 minutes). Set the temperature to 400 degrees F (High if you own a 3-position controller) and preheat, lid closed, for 10 to 15 minutes.
Arrange the roasting pan with the pork on the grill grate. Roast for 30 minutes.
Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F. Loosely fill the crown with the stuffing, mounding it at the top. Cover the stuffing with foil. (Alternatively, you can bake the stuffing in a separate pan alongside the roast.)
Roast the pork for another 30 minutes to 1-1/2 hours or until the temperature registers 150 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Make sure the temperature probe doesn't touch the bone or you will get a false reading.
If you want your stuffing a little browned, remove the foil for the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Meanwhile, if desired, thread a sewing needle with sturdy thread and make a garland for the roast. (This is a good job for kids!) Otherwise, just throw some cranberries on for garnish.
Bring the roast to the kitchen and let rest for 15 minutes. Remove the foil covering the bones, but leave the butcher’s string on the roast until ready to carve. Transfer to a warm platter. Garnish, if desired, with the cranberry garland and fresh herbs. To serve, carve between the bones.
