Smoked Pumpkin Spice Chunks

maple, bourbon & smoke

I know pumpkin-spiced meat may be just as divisive as pineapple pizza, if not more. But it’s a conflict worth having and if we find ways to talk about it, we might just obtain geo-political peace. This smokey sweet-savoury little treat is meant as an extra protein for any kind of festive, autumn gathering. It can be eaten alone, of course, but who does that?

SHOP THE WHOLE-CUT LOIN

45min // serves 4-5

Ingredients:

Pumpkin spice sauce:
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 1 1/4 cups of maple syrup
• 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp of plant-based butter
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground clove
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, add if you want your sauce to be spicy!)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp of cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup of water until dissolved

Chunks:
• 1x Juicy Marbles loin, chopped into bite-sized chunks
• 1 tbsp of salt
• 1 tbsp of smoked paprika
• 1tbsp of liquid smoke
• 1 tbsp of garlic powder
• 1 tbsp of cinnamon
• 1 tsp of ground cloves
• 1 tsp white pepper
• 1 tbsp of olive oil, or other cooking oil
• Some caramelized pecans and pumpkin seeds for garnish (optional)
• Fresh mint & thyme for garnish (optional)

Method

For the pumpkin spice sauce:

Add spices, bourbon, maple syrup, minced ginger, spices, and salt to a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then bring it down to a simmer. Add the cornstarch and water. Allow the sauce to simmer for about 15-20 minutes while continuing to stir it every few minutes. After about 10 minutes add the butter. When the sauce has thickened to become a caramel consistency, it is ready. It will also continue to thicken more as it cools.

Preparing the meat:

Cut your juicy marbles into chunks. Season the chunks generously with spices and salt, and toss gently so they're seasoned evenly.
Heat a non-stick pan to medium heat. When the pan is hot, add a dash of cooking oil. When the oil is hot, add the meat to the pan. Fry the meat chunks to perfection by covering them as then cook and turning them every 2-3 minutes until they’re nicely browned on each side.
When the chunks are done, drizzle the pumpkin spice sauce generously over them, and leave some sauce on the side in case anyone wants more! Top with fresh mint, thyme, and caramelized nuts!