Recipe: Pork, Butterbean & Spring Green Casserole

As soon as the spring greens come in this is the perfect dish to conjure up.

Use a very lean cut of meat, making sure you sear it, and your result will be literally melt-in-the-mouth pork!

Ingredients: (Serves 2)

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 250g diced lean pork, seasoned with salt and pepper
• 2 rashers smoky bacon, diced
• 1 banana shallot (or 4 little shallots) sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tin butterbeans, drained and rinsed 
• 500ml chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf 
• 150g diced spring greens
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• ½ tsp Worchester sauce
• 1 rounded tsp cornflour, mixed with a little water
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C. In a casserole, fry the seasoned pork in the olive oil on a high heat for about 5 minutes. Add the shallot, bacon and garlic and cook for 5 more minutes. 

2. Add all the other ingredients (except the cornflour), mix well, put the lid on, and put in the oven for an hour. 

3. Remove from the oven, add the cornflour mixture, mix in, then put back in the oven for a further 45 minutes. Remove, season to taste, and serve!