Growing up, one of the home meals I always looked forward to was my mom’s pork roast with applesauce. It’s one of the dishes from my childhood that I make my own iterations of from time to time. Even when it doesn’t turn out exactly like I remember it, the combination of savory pork and sweet, spiced apples takes me back in the best way. That pairing is so ingrained in my mind that it didn’t occur to me until recently to try a fruit other than apples.

ingredients
1    pound   frozen cherries, thawed and drained of juice
2    tablespoons   balsamic vinegar
1    cup   sliced onion
2      crushed garlic cloves
1/4   cup   basil leaves
4    pounds   pork shoulder roast
2    teaspoons   kosher salt
1 1/3   cups   instant polenta
1/4   cup   grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1/2   teaspoon   ground black pepper
directions
Combine cherries, balsamic vinegar, onion, garlic, and basil leaves in a slow cooker. Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder, season with salt, and add to slow cooker. Cover and cook on high until pork is very tender, 4 hr.
Before serving, prepare instant polenta according to package instructions; stir in Pecorino and pepper. Serve slices of the pork and cherry sauce over polenta with extra basil and Pecorino. Serves 6
NUTRITION INFORMATION

Per Serving: cal. (kcal) 560, Fat, total (g) 12.5, chol. (mg) 128, sat. fat (g) 5, carb. (g) 60, fiber (g) 8, pro. (g) 47, sodium (mg) 945, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet