The Rieger Pork Soup – A Heartland Classic for National Pork Month

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October is National Pork Month; once considered “the other white meat,” pork has come into its own as one of the most popular choices for top chefs. Heartland chef Howard Hanna works with the foremost heritage breeders throughout the Midwest to showcase the versatility and genuine flavor of this classic meat. This month Hanna shares his recipe for The Rieger Pork Soup – and the reasons why it is the only dish that has made the cut on every menu at The Rieger in Kansas City.

What makes pork such a great meat to work with?

Chef Howard: ?I think the obvious answer is that it’s delicious, but more than that, pork is incredibly versatile. You can work with every different part of the pig, apply almost any type of cooking technique to it, and achieve an incredible variety of flavors and textures. Pork is great in various fresh cuts but is perfect for curing, smoking, making into sausages and terrines.

What are some of your favorite ingredients to use with pork dishes?

Chef Howard: ?I love that pork works well with humble ingredients. It offers so much flavor that it doesn’t need uncommon or luxury ingredients to make it taste great. Pork is an affordable ingredient that is approachable and comforting to people all over the world in many different cuisines. It’s great with onions, garlic, potatoes, chiles, and all different kinds of spices and flavor profiles.

Any tips on what home cooks should look for when purchasing pork and/or best ways to experiment with it?

Chef Howard: To me, pork should not be thought of as “the other white meat.” We use pastured pork from heritage breeds like Berkshire, Duroc, and Gloucestershire Old Spot. They are rich in flavor, with robust dark meat, and plenty of delicious fat.

About the Dish:

I created the base of this soup for a pork-centric competition called Cochon 555, which travels the country giving whole pigs to local chefs and turning them loose with them. I wanted to do a simple but delicious pork soup by making an amazing pork stock, reducing it down a bit, and enriching it with some trotters. For another dish, I made some pork confit and I had several heads of garlic left over. I decided to puree them into my pork broth and call it “pork and garlic soup.” I garnished it with nettle pesto. It was deep and satisfying.

While dreaming of opening The Rieger, I had amassed some small wares and other restaurant equipment that I thought would come in handy someday. One such item was a set of footed lions’ head bowls that the French use for onion soup. When I was writing our opening menu, I knew I wanted to use them but I didn’t want to do an onion soup since there were other local independent restaurants that make awesome versions of them. My mind went back to the pork and garlic soup. With French onion soup in mind, I decided to add shredded-up pork confit, which would mimic the traditional onions, and to float a crispy pork skin on top in lieu of a crouton to hold up the oozy, melted Gruyere. Thus, The Rieger Pork Soup was born.

While it is extremely rich and hearty, the bitters and the vinegar balance it out and cut the fat, and the Gruyere smooths everything out. It was a smash hit the first winter we opened, but I thought I might take it off the menu in the spring. Now we’ve been through two long hot summers. The sales haven’t slowed, and people continue to rave about it when they come in. It has become our signature dish, so it will definitely stay on the menu. I hope everyone likes it as much as we do!

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of pork should I use for The Rieger Pork Soup?

For the best results, use a mix of fresh cuts along with some heritage breed pork, as they provide a variety of flavors and textures that enhance the soup.

Do I need to use specific spices with the pork in this recipe?

While Chef Howard recommends using humble ingredients, common spices like garlic and chiles work exceptionally well with the pork to elevate its natural flavor.