Hoisin-Braised Pork with Grilled Watermelon and Shishito Peppers

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine salt, sugar, five-spice, garlic and black pepper. Stir in pork and set aside at room temperature for an hour.
2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
3. Meanwhile, transfer pork to a strainer and rinse off the spice blend. Pat pork pieces dry and set aside.
4. In a large braising pan or skillet with a lid over medium-high heat, warm 2 tablespoons of oil. Add pork and cook until browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove pork to a plate. Add carrot, celery and chopped onion to pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes. Add chicken stock, stirring and scraping up any brown bits in the pan. Stir in hoisin sauce and browned pork; bring to a boil. Cover, transfer to oven, and cook until pork is very tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
5. Use a slotted spoon to remove pork to a bowl or plate and set aside. Strain the sauce. Return pork and strained sauce to the pan. (You can make the pork to this point up to 3 days in advance; let the pork to cool in the liquid, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over low heat before proceeding.) Add butter to the pan, stirring until it melts. Season with salt and black pepper and cover to keep warm.
6. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, warm remaining tablespoon of oil. Add shishito peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper, and a squeeze of the lemon. Loosely cover to keep warm.
7. Heat a grill to very hot and lightly oil the grate. Grill watermelon on one side until well seared, 45 to 60 seconds. Arrange watermelon on plates grilled side up and sprinkle with isot pepper, if using, salt, and black pepper. Use a slotted spoon to arrange pork on top. Arrange shishito peppers on top of the pork. Spoon on some of the sauce and garnish with mustard greens, if using. Serve the cipollini onions, if using, on the side.