The pig's ears have been plentiful this year, and we've enjoyed them in multiple dishes, including this month's Incredible Edible: Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Pig's Ears.
In spite of its showy presentation, the dish is quite simple and quick to put together. In fact, most of the prep can be done early in the day. Then, just before baking, bring out the puff pastry or fillo dough and complete the dish.
An elegant package of Pig's Ears and pork.
Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Pig's Ears
4 slices of bacon, cut into 1" pieces
8 ounces pig's ears or other wild mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup chopped onions or shallots
1 teaspoon each dried thyme and oregano
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 - 1" slices of pork tenderloin, brined in mixture of 1/2 cup Diamon Crystal kosher salt, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 quart water for 1/2 hour and then rinsed and patted dry with paper towels
8 ounces fillo dough, thawed, OR 2 sheets of frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, lightly beaten, if using puff pastry
- Saute bacon in nonstick skillet over medium heat until almost crisp. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the fat. Add mushrooms, onions, thyme and oregano to the skillet. Saute the mixture until mushrooms have released their juice and are tender, about 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Allow mixture to cool.
- Cut a pocket in each of the pork pieces and stuff with 1/4 of the mushroom mixture. Or, place 1/4 of the mushroom mixture on top of each pork piece.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter a heavy baking sheet.
- If using fillo dough, lightly spray or butter each sheet. Wrap pork, overlapping fillo pieces. Place individual packets on baking sheet. Brush tops with butter.
- If using puff pastry, cut each sheet of pastry into 4 rectangles. Place pork on pastry and brush edges of pastry with egg. Fold short ends of pastry over pork. Fold long sides of pastry over pork, then pinch edges to seal. Place pastry seam side down on baking sheet. Brush tops with egg.
- Bake either package (fillo or puff pastry) for 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden.
Pig's ears have a lovely color and texture.