Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics Season 17 Episode 8 Cook Like a Pro: Pork

In the eighth episode of season 17 of Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics, Ina Garten continues her Cook Like a Pro series with a focus on pork. In this episode, the beloved chef shares her tips and tricks for cooking pork to perfection, ensuring that it is juicy and flavorful every time.

As always, Ina begins the episode by taking a trip to her local farm to pick up fresh ingredients. From there, she heads back to her kitchen to demonstrate how to make three delicious pork dishes: pork souvlaki, pulled pork sandwiches, and roasted pork tenderloin.

For the pork souvlaki, Ina makes a Greek-inspired marinade with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and herbs. She cuts the pork into bite-sized pieces, marinates it for several hours, and then skewers it before grilling to perfection. Ina serves the souvlaki with a tangy yogurt sauce and a fresh cucumber and tomato salad.

Next up are Ina's pulled pork sandwiches, which she slow-cooks in the oven for several hours until they are tender and falling apart. She makes a homemade barbecue sauce with ketchup, cider vinegar, and brown sugar, which she drizzles over the pork before serving on fluffy brioche buns with coleslaw.

Finally, Ina tackles roasted pork tenderloin, which can be a tricky cut of meat to cook correctly. She starts by seasoning the tenderloin with salt, pepper, and olive oil, and roasting it in the oven until it reaches the perfect internal temperature. To serve alongside the pork, Ina makes a savory apple chutney with diced apples, onions, and raisins.

Throughout the episode, Ina shares her expert tips and techniques for cooking pork, such as how to properly marinate and grill skewers, how to shred pork for sandwiches, and how to check the temperature of a roasted tenderloin. She emphasizes the importance of using high-quality ingredients and taking the time to properly prepare and cook the pork, resulting in dishes that are bursting with flavor.

As always, Ina's warm and approachable personality makes the show both informative and entertaining. Fans of Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics will love watching her Cook Like a Pro series and picking up new cooking skills along the way.