This Portuguese stove top pork roast takes me back to the delicious meals cooked in my grandmother’s kitchen. I love recipes passed down from generation to generation.
When my parents immigrated to this country. I was left behind with my grandparents in Portugal. I have amazing memories of those two years and so many of them involve food and cooking in my Vo-Vo’s kitchen. My grandparents lived in a small village where everyone grew food, produced wine and our main dishes came from the animals that resided in our own yards. Those cute bunnies, chicken and messy pigs would soon become dinner.
My grandfather was a small winemaker and under the vines, potatoes were planted. Looking back, it was amazing how they knew how to use every inch of land to grow more products. I have no idea what the reasoning was but the potatoes that were grown under the vines were huge, or so I remember.
Twice a year, one of our friendly pigs was slaughtered. My grandparents manually cut each section of the pig and divided it up for future meals. When I tell you they used everything, I am not kidding. Even all the little bits and odds and ends were used to make sausage. You probably don’t need to know what the sausage casing was made out of, but I will tell you that I can still remember how delicious that sausage tasted.
My grandmother had a wood fired oven that had its own little one room home. It was mostly used for baking. She prepared most of our meals on a single burner gas stove in her kitchen. When I think back, I am still amazed at the complex meals she prepared with just one burner. The food was so fresh and made with so much love, it couldn’t be anything but absolutely delicious.
It really never occurred to me that this wasn’t normal for the rest of the world until I moved to the US and we lived in Newark, NJ. There wasn’t much grass, never mind live animals and fruit growing next to our apartment. From my Vo-Vo, I learned that fresh ingredients will always out shine complex dishes. And one will always be able to tell when a dish is made with love. It is not fancy appliances that make the dish, but the person behind that dish.
- 3 pound Pork Shoulder Butt Roast
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 garlic cloves, chopped very fine
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- fresh sea salt and ground pepper
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 6 russet potatoes, quartered
- 6 carrots, sliced into ½ inch slices
- 1⁄2 cup beef broth
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup vinho verde or dry white wine
- 3 tablespoons sliced scallions or leeks
- 3 bay leaves
- Rub the roast all over with thyme, sage and salt and pepper.
- Heat a heavy dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add olive oil oil to pan and brown the roast on all sides.
- Season with fresh ground sea salt and pepper.
- Add the onion, potatoes, carrots, beef broth, tomato paste, wine, leeks and bay leaves.
- Reduce the heat to medium low.
- Cover and simmer for 2 hours.
- Check on the meat occasionally and add a little more beef broth if necessary.
- The results will be a delicious roast, flavorful veggies in a robust gravy.
Happy Grandparents Day to all the wonderful grandparents who impact the lives of our children. I am blessed to have so many great memories with my grandparents and know their unconditional love made a difference in my life. My children are just as blessed to have Vo-Vo and Vo in their lives. They are amazing role models and love spending time around the family table with all of us.
The Sunday Supper Family is honored to be celebrating National Grandparents Day with some of our favorite food memories. You will love all these favorite dishes that have been passed down from generation to generation.
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- Summer Peach Cake by Pies and Plots
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- Nunney’s Super Mac N Cheese by Momma’s Meals
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- Taco Pie by Food Done Light
- The Best Boiled Peanuts by 30A Eats
5 Tips for Preserving Family Recipes and a Grandparents Day Tribute by Sunday Supper
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30aeats
September 13, 2015 at 7:27 amFresh is best, and it sounds like your grandparents had that down pat! What wonderful memories to have had the time to live with your grandparents while tour parents settled, and for you to pass on to your children. Not to mention, such great recipes like the stove top pot roast!
FamilyFoodie
September 13, 2015 at 7:58 amThank you so much. I love all the wonderful memories grandparents day brings back. Truly recipes from the heart.
Stacy
September 13, 2015 at 7:49 amMy grandmothers also made pot roast quite frequently, Isabel, especially my mom’s mother. She always cooked two roasts in the same pot, one beef, one pork, because she said they helped flavor each other.
I love that rich gravy created by your beautiful pork roast with vegetables! Your grandmother was an amazing woman, cooking on only one burner. I can’t even imagine that!
FamilyFoodie
September 13, 2015 at 7:57 amThank you Stacy…I have got to try making this dish with pork and beef. I am so intrigued.
Shannon C
September 13, 2015 at 10:30 amIsabel this is a beautiful tribute to your grandparents! Simple, fresh, ingredients are so wonderful. Meals with love are the best.
personalchef2015
September 13, 2015 at 11:08 amI just love your story Isabel! I never knew you were waiting two years to come join your parents in the US. That time with your grandparents must have been very comforting to you. LOVE LOVE LOVE this dish too! Give your parents a big hug!xo
mommasmeals
September 13, 2015 at 2:36 pmIf your Vo Vo made it, I’m making it! Fresh is the best and you can always tell when love is put into a recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm
September 13, 2015 at 3:10 pmAmen Isabel. So nicely stated…love absolutely shines through when cooking and makes everything taste better.
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere
September 13, 2015 at 3:34 pmSuch wonderful memories! I love how dishes like this can transport you back to a different time.
Liz Berg
September 13, 2015 at 3:53 pmWhat a wonderful meal…along with wonderful memories of watching your Vo-Vo cook with love in her kitchen.
Laura Dembowski (@piesandplots)
September 13, 2015 at 4:08 pmIt sounds like you have had a very interesting life, Isabel. I would love to hear more about it over this roast.
Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
September 13, 2015 at 8:12 pmWhat an amazing story and wonderful memories you have!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers
September 13, 2015 at 11:20 pmWow Isabel! What a wonderful recipe you have here. The photos are gorgeous and I simply I love your story about your Grandparents.
cathy6c
September 14, 2015 at 8:25 amHi Isabel — pot roast was a big thing with my mother-in-law and my husband’s whole family. Glad to see you are carrying on the tradition – cathy from Delaware Girl Eats
carolinescookingblog
September 16, 2015 at 7:53 pmWhat wonderful memories, and so great to have the idea of fresh being best so early on – I hope my kids learn that from us too. The pot roast looks delicious – it’s not something we really had or at least not quite in that form. Thanks for sharing.
Cindy Kerschner
September 17, 2015 at 6:10 amA lovely tribute recipe, Isabel! You have a very special family!
lk529
September 17, 2015 at 5:05 pmWow, what an incredible background – it’s clear where your love of cooking came from!
Constance Smith | CosmopolitanCornbread.com
September 19, 2015 at 7:01 pmMmmmmm!!! This roast looks amazing!
Jay
October 4, 2015 at 10:08 amBom Dia! Thanks for the recipe, this reminds me very much of the Alcatra we used to get in the Azores. Wonderful pot roast.