Star Anise Braised Pork Stew

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp lard or coconut oil
• 1 medium onion (chopped)
• 1 garlic clove (minced)
• 2 lbs pork loin (cut into 1" cubes and patted dry)
• 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• 2 cups bone broth
• 1/2 tsp whole anise seeds
• 2-3 whole star anise
• 3-4 drops anise essential oil (optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 325F

2. 2

   In a medium sized Dutch oven, melt your fat over medium-high heat.

3. 3

   When fat is hot enough, add your pieces of meat, sprinkle with salt pepper and cook for about 10 minutes. Drain any liquid that may have rendered (add it to your bone broth) and resume cooking the meat until it becomes golden on all sides and a crust forms at the bottom of the pan, about 5-10 more minutes.

4. 4

   Add sliced onions, garlic, anise seeds and star anise and continue cooking for about one minute or until fragrant.

5. 5

   Add broth and previously drained cooking liquid, star anise and anise essential oil and stir well.

6. 6

   Place in the oven cook for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until meat is fork tender and cooking liquid has almost but not completely evaporated.

7. 7

   Serve immediately