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Spanish Pork and Fideo Cazuela

Spanish Pork and Fideo Noodles Cazuela (Stovetop Casserole)

Adapted from Janet Mendel
Course Entree
Cuisine Spanish
Author TheSpicedLife

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (about 1/4 lb) cubed smoked Spanish chorizo
  • 1 1/2 lbs of pork chops or pork tenderloin, sliced into bite sized sized pieces (I used tenderloin as it was what I had)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 T extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 medium-large onions, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 5 roasted piquillo peppers, chopped
  • 3-5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups dry white wine, divided
  • 1/4 t dried thyme (I used a mix of fresh and dried, use what you have)
  • 2 medium-large tomatoes, peeled, chopped (I used frozen)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 1/2 t smoked Spanish paprika (pimentón-I use dulce, i.e., not hot), divided
  • 1 pinch of saffron
  • 4 cups water, divided
  • 12 oz angel hair, vermicelli or spaghetti, broken into quarters (you are aiming for 1/2-inch pieces, but I found that too much of a pain)
  • 1 10-oz bag of frozen peas

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle the pork with salt and pepper on both sides and let sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Heat the cazuela, starting with a low heat. Increase the heat gradually to medium to medium high, adding the oil when it gets hot.
  3. First brown the chorizo, allowing some fat to render out and flavor the oil. When it is browned, remove the chorizo to rest in a bowl.
  4. Next brown the pork--in batches if necessary to prevent steaming. Remove the pork to rest in a bowl--you can add it to the chorizo if you wish.
  5. Add the onions with a pinch of salt and let cook for about 5 minutes. Then add the bell pepper, garlic and roasted pepper. Add another pinch of salt and let cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are starting to brown.
  6. Deglaze the pan with 1/2 cup of white wine. Cook until all the liquid boils off.
  7. Add 1/2 teaspoon of paprika and let it roast in with the aromatics until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Then add the tomatoes with a pinch of salt, the thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and let the tomatoes cook until they are reduced and thickened, about 15 minutes.
  8. While the tomatoes are cooking, measure out 1/2 cup of warm water and mix in the pinch of saffron and 2 teaspoons of pimentón.
  9. When the tomatoes have reduced, add the paprika-saffron water, as well as another 3 1/2 cups of water and 1 cup white wine. Also add a pinch of salt. Mix everything in well, and then add the chorizo and pork back into the pan, with their accumulated juices.
  10. Bring to a boil. Add the noodles and stir them in to distribute evenly and make sure they are all (mostly) covered with liquid. Let boil on medium to high heat for 5 minutes. Stir again and reduce the heat to low (but not all the way low) to maintain a very gentle boil.
  11. After 5 minutes, stir in the peas. Let gently boil, uncovered, for another 15 minutes--do not stir again.
  12. The dish is done when the noodles are tender. The dish should be moist, even juicy, but it should not remind you of a stew. Turn off the heat and let the casserole rest another 5 to 10 minutes before serving.