Spiced Pork Loin “Tacos” with Apple, Walnut and Date Salad and Calvados Bacon Vinaigrette

Recipe Courtesy of CJ Jacobson

Ingredients:

8oz Pork Loin

2oz Apple (julienne.)

10z Fennel (julienne)

20z Walnuts (roasted and seasoned)

6 Dates ( cleaned and sliced)

2oz Smoked Bacon (cooked and sliced. Rendered fat reserved.)

4oz Calvados or Brandy

1t Shallot (minced)

Lemon juice Olive oil

Salt and pepper

Cayenne pepper to taste.

Directions:

Rub the pork with salt, pepper and cayenne. In a hot, heavy bottomed pan, blacken the pork on all sides. Place in a 400 degree oven for ten minutes or until pork is done. Meanwhile place the calvados in a saucepot with the shallots. Reduce by half and chill. Add lemon juice, bacon fat and enough olive oil to form vinaigrette. Should be about half and half. Don’t freak out, just taste it. Remove pork from pan and drain pan juices into the vinaigrette. Slice the pork 1/8 “ thick. Dress the apples, dates, walnuts, bacon and fennel with the vinaigrette and place in the center of the sliced pork. Eat like a taco and smile.

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