Wine Review: Red Diamond Merlot - Recipe: Italian Pork Ragu

I had a craving for pasta while grocery shopping at TFM.  (Yes. Never shop when you're hungry.) With visions of my samplings eventually coming back I decided to test out an easy recipe in the Instant Pot.  Thinking back to my Instant Pot Spanish Chorizo Pork, it was now time to test out an Italian version. Aside from pork butt I purchased the following major ingredients:

     

  Michael's of Brooklyn sauces were on sale.  

  So I purchased their Home Style Gravy.

   Italian Seasoning.

   Wine. This is $8.99 at TFM and a great price for cooking.  

   It will also pair nicely with this meal. 

*****

Red Diamond Merlot, NV

Winemaker's Notes: This Merlot features softly-spiced black cherry, berry and plum flavors.

This was a medium/light body wine.  I thought it had a delightful dark berry nose.  Palate was dark fruit and spice with mild acidity. One I would recommend, especially for cooking.

On another note ... Altria sold Chateau Ste. Michelle Estates. Not sure how their wines will taste going forward. The article stated the grapes may not continue to be Washington State.  So sad.  To read the article, click here.

*****

(Instant Pot) Italian Pork Ragu

3 to 4 lb. pork shoulder or butt

1 pkg. TFM Sicilian Herb seasoning

3 Tbl. olive oil

1 small onion, diced

3 to 4 cloves garlic, sliced 

1 c. red wine, or broth (beef or chicken)

1 jar pasta sauce

salt to taste, or 2 chicken bouillon cubes

grated Parmesan cheese

Remove pork from netting and cut into 2-inch cubes. Remove any large pieces of fat as you cut.  Add pork cubes to Instant Pot. 

Toss pork with olive oil and 1 pkg. TFM Sicilian Herb seasoning.  Io Instant Pot add - onions, garlic, and red wine.

Set Instant Pot to PRESSURE/HIGH, MORE, KEEP WARM off, with steam vent closed, for 45 minutes.  When done, natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release.  Remove pork to baking tray and let cool 10 to 15 minutes.  

While pork is cooling set Instant Pot to SAUTE/NORMAL for 8 minutes and reduce. (The pot is convex, so when you see the center of the pot has very light coating of liquid, it is time to stop reducing. This could occur between 6 to 8 minutes.)

When pork has cooled, shred and add back to Instant Pot along with 1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce. Add bouillon cubes, or season with salt to taste. Set Instant Pot to SAUTE and cook until heated through.  OR if you've prepared this early in the day, or the day before, you can slow cook HIGH for 5 hours.  

Serve with your favorite pasta; something with nooks and crannies to catch the ragu. Top with grated Parmesan.

Have to say I was very anxious while this was cooking.  Nothing worse than an idea and it doesn't live up to my expectations.  This recipe is definitely a keeper and (fussy) Dave even enjoyed it. It was comfort food for me and nice pairing with Red Diamond Merlot. The Sicilian Herb seasoning gave this a bit of a kick.

I use bouillon cubes instead of salt in my pasta sauce/ragu.

Here's what the Instant Pot setting looks like for PRESSURE/HIGH.

Here's what the Instant Pot setting looks like for SAUTE/NORMAL.