cookSlow-roasted pork shoulder with fennel

"Everyone loves a full-flavoured, meltingly tender shoulder of pork, even the cook," says Moran. "It's easy to prepare, wow at the table and those seductive anise wafts - a thrill to wake up to." From: gourmettraveller.com.au

1 free-range, bone-in pork shoulder (5kg-6kg)
1 tbsp fennel seeds
1 head garlic, cloves peeled
750 ml white wine
10 large fennel bulbs, halved
75 ml apple cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 200C. Carefully score skin of pork in a 2.5cm diamond pattern just deep enough to penetrate fat without exposing flesh. Pound fennel seeds, garlic and 2 heaped tsp salt to a paste with a mortar and pestle. Rub all over pork, pushing into scored skin, then place skin-side up in a large deep roasting pan. Place fennel bulbs neatly around pork and pour in wine. Reduce oven to 100C and roast pork overnight (or at least 8 hours). Remove shoulder and fennel from pan and set aside covered to rest (20 minutes).

Meanwhile, add vinegar to pan and reduce cooking liquid over medium-high heat until sauce consistency (25-30 minutes). Keep warm.

Serve pork with sauce.

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