Asian Pork Pot Roast

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 lb pork picnic roast*
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 whole star anise
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1-inch piece of ginger
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2-inch piece ginger (approx. 2 tbsp)
• 3 to 4 large shallots
• 1 to 2 tbsp grapeseed oil
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup mirin**
• 4 star anise seeds
• 1/2 to 1 tsp Szechuan peppercorns
• 3 to 4 cups chicken stock
• slurry (if needed)
• kosher salt (to taste)
• freshly ground black pepper (to taste)