In Spain, where the world’s best oranges grow, they are used to season just about everything. One of my favorite encounters with the citrus fruit was an oven-braised dish of pork and oranges that I had in Seville. It could not have been simpler and can be reproduced easily. Use either country-style ribs, ribs cut from the rib (shoulder) end, or even spareribs if you like; avoid center-cut or loin pork chops here because they will become dry and tasteless.

　　

Ingredients

4 servings

　　3 navel or other oranges

　　2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

　　About 2 pounds shoulder or rib end pork chops or country-style ribs

　　Salt and black pepper to taste

　　Chopped fresh parsley leaves for garnish

　　

Step 1

Grate or mince the orange zest. Peel the pith from the oranges and cut them into 1/4-inch slices; reserve as much of their juice as you can.

　　

Step 2

Put the oil in a large skillet with a lid and place over medium heat. After a minute, add the ribs and brown them well on all sides, about 10 minutes, sprinkling the meat with salt and pepper as they cook. Reduce the heat to low and add the orange zest and any juice to the pan. Top the ribs with the orange slices, cover the skillet, and turn the heat to low.

　　

Step 3

Cook, undisturbed, until the meat is tender, at least 15 minutes and probably more like 30. Garnish the meat and serve with the pan juices.

　　The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved.MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.