Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons juniper berries
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 small onion, halved, plus 4 medium onions, halved and thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 thyme sprigs
  • One 3 1/4-pound bone-in, center-cut pork roast (about 4 ribs), cut through the chine bone
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Pinch of ground cloves
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest

Method

  • In a mortar, crush the crushed red pepper with the peppercorns, juniper berries, allspice berries and bay leaves.
  • Transfer the spices to a large pot and add the water, cumin, soy sauce, small onion, garlic and thyme.
  • Submerge the pork roast in the brine, meat side down.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours, turning the roast over once.
  • Meanwhile, in a skillet, heat the oil.
  • Add the sliced onions and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 20 minutes.
  • Season with the cloves and salt and pepper.
  • Add the brown sugar and cook over moderately low heat until the skillet is dry, 10 minutes.
  • Add the balsamic vinegar and orange zest and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the marmalade is very thick, 30 minutes.
  • Transfer the marmalade to a bowl.
  • Cover and refrigerate.
  • Remove the pork roast from the marinade 1 hour before cooking and let stand at room temperature.
  • Pat the pork roast dry with paper towels and wipe off any spices sticking to it.
  • Season the pork with salt and place it on a rack in a roasting pan.
  • Preheat the oven to 450.
  • Cook the pork roast for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 375 and cook it for about 1 hour and 10 minutes longer, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the roast registers 140.
  • Transfer the roast to a carving board and let rest for 15 minutes.
  • Carve the roast between the bones into chops.
  • Transfer the chops to plates and serve with the onion marmalade.