Mustard, sage & maple–glazed pork roast with garlic-roasted potatoes

When buying the pork, be sure to have the backbone (called the chine bone) removed so you’ll be able to slice the roast between the rib bones. But since most people love to chew the crusted meat and crackling pork fat off the rib bones, don’t have them scraped clean (butchers call this frenching).

SERVES: 6

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE PORK:

• 1 6-bone center-cut pork roast (about 51/2 pounds), chine bone removed
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Mustard, Sage & Maple Glaze

FOR THE POTATOES:

• 2 pounds medium red or yellow potatoes, rinsed (you can use a combination, but they may cook at slightly different rates)
• 1 head garlic, cloves separated and peeled
• 3 Tbs. olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 Tbs. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

MUSTARD, SAGE & MAPLE GLAZE:

YIELDS: about 11/2 cups

• 1 Tbs. olive oil
• 1 small-medium yellow onion (6 ounces), cut into medium dice (to yield 1 cup)
• 4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh sage (about 11/2 bunches)
• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 Tbs. soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Position racks in the center and bottom of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F. Let the roast sit at room temperature while the oven heats. Season the meat generously with salt and pepper. Put the pork in a small roasting pan, bone side down, and roast on the center oven rack to an internal temperature of 115°F, 50 to 60 minutes. Remove the roast from the oven and let it rest for 20 minutes. (This rest will give the juiciest results.)
2. Meanwhile, shortly before the pork hits 115°F, cut the potatoes lengthwise into wedges 11/2 to 13/4 inches wide at their thickest part. In a medium bowl, toss the potatoes with the garlic cloves, olive oil, 1 tsp. salt, and several grinds of pepper. Arrange in a roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet, one cut side down, evenly spaced. Sprinkle with the pieces of butter. When you take the roast out of the oven, put the potatoes on the bottom rack and reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
3. After 20 minutes of resting, cover the roast evenly with the mustard glaze and return it to the center oven rack. At this time, turn the potatoes with a metal spatula onto their other cut side. Roast the pork until the internal temperature is 140°F. Roast the potatoes until they’re golden and crisp on the outside and fork-tender inside. Both should take about 30 minutes (check the potatoes at 20 minutes and, if necessary for even browning, flip them back to their other cut side.) Transfer the roast to a carving board and tent with foil.
4. Let the pork rest for at least 20 minutes before carving. Set the potatoes aside in a warm place, uncovered (so they stay crisp and don’t steam), until ready to serve. To serve, slice the roast between the bones into individual chops. Toss the potatoes with the chopped parsley. Arrange the meat and potatoes on a platter and serve with vegetables, like braised cabbage, if desired.

MUSTARD, SAGE & MAPLE GLAZE:

1. Heat the oil in a medium sauté pan over medium heat.
2. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes.
3. Set aside until cooled to room temperature. Purée the onion and garlic with all of the remaining ingredients in a blender or food processor until somewhat smooth. Keep covered in the refrigerator until ready to use on the pork roast.

NOTE:

• This glaze can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated. You could also use this glaze on pork tenderloin or even roast chicken; put it on chicken halfway through cooking.