Spoiler! In the very first episode of Food Wars, a Japanese anime, the main character needs to save his restaurant by cooking a satisfying meat dish. Just one problem: the only meat he has is the bacon he was going to use for breakfast. This is how “Gotchu Pork” was created.
By wrapping the mashed potatoes in the bacon while it’s baking, the bacon flavor is infused into the potatoes. This gives the mashed potatoes a much “meatier” flavor turning into a pork roast. Gotchu! It’s still just mashed potatoes. 🙂
It’s important to tightly pack the mash potatoes together when forming the roast. If you don’t, it may fall apart when trying to wrap it. This also helps prevent it from crumbling apart when eating it.
The twine is also very important! Do not skip tying your roast because the bacon will shrink when it cooks. If you don’t use twine, then you might have an awkward, half-naked roast. It ruins the illusion of pork if potatoes are showing!
Keep your potatoes in your bacon, not the floor,
Your favorite alternative chefs, K & T
Gotchu Pork
Ingredients
3 russet potatoes, peeled and diced
1 tbsp butter
2 cup onion, diced
1 ½ cup button mushrooms, diced
salt and pepper
16 oz thick cut bacon (16~20 strips)
rosemary
Sauce
- ¼ cup red wine
- 2 tbsp tamari
- 1 tbsp mirin
- 1 tbsp vegan butter
Instructions
Gotchu Pork
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In a large pot, boil water. Once boiling add the diced potatoes and boil for 15 minutes or until soft. Remove from heat.
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Carefully drain the water from the pot, leaving the potatoes inside. Mash the potatoes until no large chunks remain.
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Place a small pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the butter and move it around to coat the pan. Then, add the onion and mushroom. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
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Saute for 7-8 minutes until onions are translucent. Fold the sauteed vegetables into the mashed potatoes.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
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Lay down a separate sheet of foil for forming the roast. Add the potato mixture and carefully form the roast into a log by pulling up the sides of the foil.
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Place strips of bacon on the baking sheet in rows across the pan. Place 4 pieces of bacon the opposite direction for wrapping around the short end of the roast.
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Transfer the roast on top of the bacon strips and fold over the bacon to cover. Carefully flip over the roast so the seam faces down
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Add rosemary on top and to the sides of the roast. Use cooking twine to secure if needed.
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Place the roast in the oven and bake for 40 minutes or until the bacon becomes crispy.
Sauce
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Place a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the wine, tamari, and mirin. Bring to a simmer and cook until reduced and syrupy, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk as needed.
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Remove pan from heat, add in the 1 tbsp butter, and whisk to combine.
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Dizzle on roast before serving.