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Let me tell you a little something about pork roast.
First up, its maybe my new favorite cut of meat to serve a crowd.
I know that might sound odd, but hear me out. Over Thanksgiving I bought aĀ beef roast to feed twelve people and it was $135. Granted I did buy it at Whole Foods, but um, whoa! Why such a fancy meal for a such big crowd? Hello, I had to please Kai for his 20th birthday! It was three nights of all his favorite foods + a BIG Thanksgiving dinner.
Really, I would be the bestest girlfriend to a guy who loves food.
Seriously.
ANYWAY, the next night I bought this pork loin roast for…$7. YES! Count me in – all guests coming for Christmas, expect some pork!
Just sayin.
OKAY. I will definitely be doing beef as well, cause that has ALWAYS been our Christmas Eve dinner, but for many of the other nights I’m thinking pork… tacos, sammies, chops, soup and of course this roast.
I will not lie, when I set out to make this recipe I was a little scared. I had never rolled and stuffed meat like this. FYI, I watched a whole slew of YouTube videos (yes, I am just like you and watch YouTube videos to learn new skills) before even attempting to test out this recipe.
Good things happened and no disasters to report!
Pat on the back, double fist pump.
Let’s start out by saying, I know this seems scary, stuffing a pork roast I mean. Let’s follow that up with,Ā DO NOT be scared. I was shocked at just how easy this whole process was. Like you can do this.
You literally just make a few slices in the meat and it kind of rolls out into a flat piece for you. Almost magically, but then not really. From there you just add the wild rice, roll, secure with kitchen twine and roast.
Pretty simple, but yet super elegant, right?!?
Soo let’s talk about that wild rice though. It’s filled with bacon…and mushrooms, which is maybe the best combo ever. The bacon drippings act as the dressing creating awesome flavor. AND there’s also some roasted pistachiosĀ and feta happening too. YUM. It’s kind of the perfect thing to get rolled up into a pork, which then gets covered in a pineapple glaze…
That pineapple glaze, that glaze is my world at the moment. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of pineapple (I buy a minimum of two a week), so obviously, this is my kind of meal!
You can kind of think of this meal as being similar toĀ a pineapple glazed holiday ham. But instead of a ham, it’s pork loin roast, and instead of ALL meat, there are carbs rolled up in there.
BecauseĀ for as much as I love pineapple, I equally love carbs. <–truth.
The best part about this recipe is that it’s easy enough to make on a weeknight (but you do need to have some time since it does take a while for the pork and rice to cook), but fancy enough to serve at any Christmas party. You can even prep the roast ahead of time and then just roast it before your guests arrive.
And did I mention… it’s a pretty dang cheap meal? For some reason that’s a big selling factor to me, I mean delicious AND inexpensive, wow! Bigger selling factor though is that pineapple glaze. I am totally all about this recipe because of the glaze. Can’t get enough.
Most random SIDE NOTE: is anyone else stressing a bit about Christmas shopping?!? I totally blew it with cyber Monday and did zero shopping. Now I have to buy full-price and get it all here in time too. Oh boy, oh boy. I am both stressing and excited at the same time. Stressing cause I have zero time to actually shop, but excited because I LOVE Christmas shopping. Finding people the best gifts is my favorite! š
So what do you think?? Wild rice, bacon, feta, mushrooms?? Inside a moist pineapple glazed pork?!?!?
Can we all make this Pineapple Glazed Pork Roast now??
Like right NOW, it will make for a fancy little Thursday night dinner?!? Perfect for December!
YES, LETS DO IT!
Pineapple Glazed Pork Roast with Bacon Wild Rice Stuffing.
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories Per Serving: 738 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup uncooked wild rice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 slices thick cut bacon chopped
- 8 ounces button mushrooms sliced
- 10 ounces fresh or frozen spinach thawed if frozen
- 1 cup roasted pistachios
- 8 ounces feta cheese crumbled
- 1 pound pork loin roast 2 1/2
- 1/2 cup grainy mustard
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 cups medium pineapple peeled, cored + diced, about 5
- 1 medium delicata squash halved, deseeded + sliced into half moons
Instructions
- Cook the wild rice according to package directions. I brought 4 cups water to a boil, added the rice and simmered, covered for 45 minutes until the rice was fluffy and the water absorbed.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until the fat begins to render, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and continue cooking until the bacon crisps, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the spinach. Allow the spinach to wilt into the bacon mushroom mixture.
- Once the rice is cooked, stir in the bacon mixture + all the drippings from the pan. Stir in the pistachios and then crumble in the feta. Season the rice with salt + pepper.
- Place pork, fat side down, on work surface with 1 short end facing you. Using long thin sharp knife and starting 1/2 inch above underside of roast, cut 1/2 inch in along right side. Continue cutting 1/2 inch above underside, unrolling roast like carpet. I found [this how-to | http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/inside-our-kitchen/article/how-to-trim-stuff-and-roll-the-pork-loin-that-s-on-our-october-cover] really helpful.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven.
- Once your pork roast is in a flat piece, use a meat mallet to pound the pork so that most of the meat is in one even layer.
- Spread about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of the wild rice over the pork.
- Roll up pork; arrange seam side down on work surface (fat side will be facing up). Using kitchen string, tie at 1- to 1 1/2-inch intervals. Transfer pork, fat side up, to roasting pan. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
- Rub the pork all over with the mustard and then sprinkle on the brown sugar + cayenne. Add the pineapple.
- Roast pork for 25 minutes at 425 degrees F. Add the squash rounds and reduce the oven temperature to 375. Continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of loin registers 140-160 degrees F. (it will be cooked medium but still slightly pink), about 35-50 minutes. Let the roast rest for at least 20 minutes before slicing. Serve the pork along side the remaining rice + roasted squash and pomegranate arils (if desired).
Notes
Pineapple glaze adapted from Better Home and Garden December 2015 Issue.
Really, do it. Seriously. Doesn’t that just look perfect?!? š
Can this be done on the smoker ?
Hey Michael,
So sorry, I do not own a smoker so I have never tried this, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT
I received the Super Simple recipe book for my birthday in January. I have to say, Half Baked Harvest recipes are now used in my home at least 5 nights a week. Super easy, super delicious and totally my style of food. Thank you Teighan for sharing your love of cooking, making me look like a rock star in the kitchen and venturing outside my comfort zone.
Thanks so much for your kind message Geraldine! I’m so glad you have been enjoying the recipes and appreciate you making them:) Have a great weekend! xx
Thank you Teighan. I will be hosting a Half Baked Harvest dinner party for my family and friends over the summer. All food cooked will be from your recipes. The buzz has started as my family in Ireland are very familiar with your books