| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 60 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 565 | 23g | 6g | 55g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 13g | 10g | 45g | 0.8g |
Why I Love Norwegian Wild Boar Chops with Oven Baked Vegetables
Every now and then it’s good to travel beyond the familiar borders of your culinary comfort zone, and that’s just what I did when I created this outstanding Norwegian recipe – Wild Boar Chops with Oven Baked Vegetables. It may seem like a far journey from my usual repertoire, but like all my dishes, it still ties back to my roots and what I love most about food – the unifying power it has in bringing families and cultures together.
Melding Cultures, Unifying Flavors
While keeping my signature style of New England seafood and Irish comfort food, I tend to lean on to the idea of fusing different cuisines together. This recipe, in particular, takes inspiration from the rich and bold flavors often found in traditional Norwegian cuisine. I first came across this combination of wild boar and oven baked vegetables while browsing Andreas Viestad’s Norwegian cookbook, a groundbreaking chef in Nordic cuisine. His innovative approach to cooking stirred my creativity and opened my eyes to a whole new world of Nordic food.
Homey Norweigian Comfort, Meet Local Fresh Produce
Wild boar chops may be a far cry from seafood, and yet, they are gamey, tender, and every bit as satisfying as a hearty Irish stew. Seasoned with fragrant herbs of rosemary and thyme and perfectly seared in olive oil, they offer a robust base for the dish. To enhance their unique flavor, I decided to pair the chops with a plethora of oven baked vegetables, including baby carrots, Brussels sprouts, baby potatoes, onion wedges, and butternut squash. The end result is a strength of flavors and color, amplitude of textures and aromas, all united by an infusion of red wine and beef broth.
If you’re a fan of traditional Irish meat and vegetables roast, then this Wild Boar Chops with Oven Baked Vegetables recipe is definitely worth trying. It could even be served alongside our traditional seafood dishes or a simple bowl of white rice for a little added comfort.
With this recipe, my hope is that you’ll discover, like I did, that each region, each culture has a unique and wonderful way of bringing warmth to the dinner table. That regardless of where the culinary journey takes us, as long as we’re gathering together to share a meal, we’re right at home.
What You’ll Need
- 6 wild boar chops
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, minced
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 pound baby carrots
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed
- 1 pound baby potatoes
- 1 red onion, cut into wedges
- 1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cubed
Method
Step One
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Season the wild boar chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the boar chops and cook until browned on both sides. Remove the chops from the pan and set them aside.
Step Two
In the same pan, add the minced garlic, fresh rosemary leaves, and thyme leaves. Sautè for about a minute until the garlic turns golden. Pour in the red wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. Let the wine reduce to half, then add in the beef broth and let simmer for a few minutes.
Step Three
While your sauce is simmering, place the baby carrots, Brussels sprouts, baby potatoes, red onion and butternut squash in a large baking dish. Drizzle the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over the vegetables and season them with salt and pepper. Toss the vegetables until they’re evenly coated with the oil.
Step Four
Place the browned wild boar chops on top of the vegetables in the baking dish. Pour the wine and broth mixture from the pan over the chops and vegetables. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the boar chops are cooked to your desired doneness.
Step Five
Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your Wild Boar Chops with Oven Baked Vegetables hot from the oven. You can serve this dish as it is, or pair it with some crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce. Enjoy!
