Best Outdoor Porchetta Recipes

EASY PORCHETTA

Steps:

• *See step-by-step pictures in blog post for visual reference.If using a pork belly: Lay it skin side down and rub the top side down with the seasonings. Then roll up the belly and tie it with twine to secure it. If using a roast: Lay the roast down and make several cuts into it lengthwise leaving the meat attached at the one side. Each slice should be roughly 1/2 inch or so thick. (Think of the pork roast looking like a book with "pages" of sliced meat that are attached at the binding.) Rub down the exterior of the roast with the salt as well as inside each layer.Note: With a well-marbled roast you won't be able to get precise slices and that's okay, just do your best and rub the spices/herbs in the crevices.
• Fold open the first slice/layer and generously sprinkle with the fennel, pepper, herbs, lemon zest and garlic. Continue to fold over the slices and sprinkle the spices/herbs between each slice. Rub down the exterior of the roast with some of the crushed fennel and pepper.Use kitchen twine to tie the roast.At this point you can cover and chill the roast until you're ready to cook it. It's a great make-ahead dish and can be prepared a day ahead.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.Place a tablespoon or two of oil in a large heavy skillet (I prefer cast iron for this) and heat the skillet on the stove. When it's good and hot place the roast in the skillet. It should sizzle and sputter.Use hot pads to carefully lift the hot skillet and place it on the middle rack of the oven. Roast for 1 hour and then, moving quickly to avoid too much heat escaping, turn the roast over and continue to cook for another hour. If the roast seems dry and the pan juices have evaporated add 1/4cup or so of broth or water to the bottom of the skillet.Turn the roast over a final time and cook for another 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature registers 185 F if using pork belly or 145-150 F if using a pork roast.The roast should be beautifully browned and caramelized.Remove the porchetta from the skillet, place on a platter and tent with foil for a few minutes.Note: If you like you can make a delicious pan sauce from the drippings in the skillet. Place the skillet on the stovetop over medium high heat, pour in a little white wine and whisk to scrape the bits off the bottom of the skillet. Add a little broth or water and simmer for a few minutes.
• Enjoy the porchetta sliced and served with the pan sauce spooned over it along with mashed potatoes or polenta and vegetables.Or slice the porchetta and serve it on crispy Italian bread for sandwiches. This makes great leftovers!To reheat leftovers: Place the sliced porchetta in a covered microwave-safe dish to retain the moisture and microwave until heated through.

PORCHETTA (AUTHENTIC ITALIAN PORK ROAST)

Steps:

• Open the piece of pork onto the butcher paper or clean countertop, skin side down.
• Sprinkle generously with the salt, then work the salt into the pork.
• Next, add the rosemary. We used fresh rosemary as I have a bush in my garden. Rub it and crush it between your fingers to release the oils.Add the freshly ground black pepper all over the porchetta. Now add the fennel pollen. Sprinkle evenly over the pork, but save a little of the pollen for after the porchetta has been rolled.
• Roll it tightly, but as you roll it, sprinkly some salt onto the unseasoned pork. Continue rolling until you reach the end.
• Keeping the seam side down, start tying the pork. Another pair of hands will make this part immensely easier. There's no need for fancy ties or sailors' knots, just wrap, double knot and cut.
• Repeat every few inches. The goal is only to keep the porchetta closed, so don't tie it too tightly, either. As you can see, ours is far from perfect, but unless you're serving the Queen of England, it won't matter.
• Turn the roast seam side up and add more seasonings, including the rest of the fennel pollen to the non-skin parts of the pork which are exposed (including the ends).
• Place seam side down on a rack on a roasting pan or baking tray. Cover the ends with aluminum foil and secure with toothpicks.
• Drizzle with olive oil and rub all over the skin with your hands. Sprinkle with more salt and rosemary.
• Preheat the oven to 400˚F (200˚C).
• Place in the hot oven when it comes to temperature and roast for 1 hour, then lower the temperature to 350°F (170°C) and continue to cook for about another 2 hours. Check the center of the roast when it reaches 170°F (76°C) remove from the oven. Take the foil off the ends and place on top of the porchetta, and allow to rest for about 10 minutes.
• Using a sharp knife, remove one or two of the pieces of twine. Cut into slices and serve on crusty Italian rolls, or bread, Italian style!

PORCHETTA

Steps:

• Having the butcher butterfly the pork loin will save time for you, here is how to butterfly the pork loin yourself.
• Place the pork loin on a cutting board and slice lengthwise down the center but not completely in half. Press the loin open like a book.
• Lay the pork belly skin side down on a work space with the short end facing you, place the pork loin on the belly and roll it around the loin. There should be enough belly to enclose the pork loin. If there is excess belly, trim evenly. Unroll the belly and set aside.
• Lay the pork belly on the work surface, skin side up. With a needle-type meat tenderizer or the tip of a small knife, poke dozens of 1/8-inch deep holes over the entire skin. The skin is tough and will require some pressure to pierce.
• Turn the pork belly over and with a sharp knife, make a 1/3-inch deep crosshatch pattern over the flesh. This will help the roast cook evenly. Sprinkle the flesh side of the pork belly with the salt and pepper, rubbing it into the crosshatch cuts.
• In a small skillet set over medium heat, toast the fennel seed and red pepper until fragrant. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, then grind the spices in a spice mill or a mortar and pestle.
• Transfer the spices to a small bowl and add the sage, thyme, rosemary, oregano, garlic, salt and olive oil. Stir to combine the mixture, set aside.
• Place the pork loin on the work space and open it up like a book. Spread the spice/herb mix over the entire surface. Be sure to work it into all the crevices so the flavor will permeate the flesh. Using a microplane, zest the orange peel over the seasoned pork loin.
• Roll the loin lengthwise, into a tight cylinder and place it on the center of the seasoned pork belly. Beginning at the short end closest to you, wrap the pork belly around the loin into a tight roll to meet at the opposite edge.
• With the kitchen twine and a meat needle, sew the bork belly edges along the length of the cylinder to close the pork roll and retain its shape. If necessary use the tip of a paring knife to puncture a starting hole for each stitch. (See Notes) You may need an extra set of hands for this part to keep the pork from unrolling while you sew it up. Long wooden skewers placed through the pork roll will also be helpful to keep the roll intact while sewing the edges. Tie additional twine around the cylinder at 1-inch intervals and trim off any ends of the twine.
• Season the rind with course salt then transfer the pork belly to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, overnight or up to 2 days to dry out the pork belly skin.
• Preheat the oven to 275°F and arrange the oven rack to the lower third position.
• Transfer the porchetta, (still on the rack over the baking sheet) to the oven and roast the porchetta for 3 to 3-1/2 hours, rotating the pan occasionally to keep the browning even, until an instant-read thermometer reads 140°F. *See Notes
• Remove the porchetta from the oven and increase the temperature to 500°F, then transfer the porchetta back to the oven and roast until the pork skin is a deep brown, bubbly and crisp.
• Remove the porchetta to a cutting board and let rest for 30 minutes. Do not tent with foil.
• Remove the stitching and the kitchen twine. Slice the porchetta with a serrated knife into 1/2-inch slices.

PORCHETTA PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Score skin and fat all over pork, taking care not to cut down to the meat.
• In a food processor or mortar and pestle, combine fennel fronds, rosemary, sage, garlic, lemon zest, salt, fennel seed, red pepper flakes and black pepper. Pour in oil. Pulse or mash until it forms a paste. Rub all over pork. If using a boneless roast, tie with kitchen string at 2-inch intervals. Transfer to a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 6 hours and preferably overnight.
• Remove pork from refrigerator 1 to 2 hours before you want to cook it. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Transfer pork to a rimmed baking sheet and roast 35 minutes. Reduce temperature to 325 degrees and cook an additional 2 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 180 degrees, which will give you sliceable, tender meat. (Bone-in roasts will take longer than boneless ones.)
• Transfer pork to a cutting board and let rest 15 to 30 minutes before serving. Make sure everyone gets some of the cracklings.

PORCHETTA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together sage, rosemary, oregano, garlic, fennel pollen, salt, pepper, and lemon zest; set aside.
• Place pork belly skin side up on a clean work surface. Using a very sharp knife, score skin in a diamond-shape fashion. Turn pork belly over so that it is skin-side down. Season flesh side of belly with salt and pepper and half of the herb mixture.
• Place pork loin on a cutting board. Holding the blade of the knife parallel to board, cut along the length of the pork loin, but not all the way through. Unfold so that it opens like a book. Place butterflied loin on top of pork belly. Season with salt and pepper and spread with remaining herb mixture.
• Roll pork away from you into a cylindrical shape; tie with kitchen twine at 1-inch intervals to make snug.
• Season skin with salt and pepper. Transfer to refrigerator, uncovered, so that it air-dries for 3 days.
• Fit a rimmed baking sheet with a rack and transfer pork to rack. Preheat oven to 500 degrees with a rack set in the lower third of the oven.
• Transfer pork, skin side up, to oven and cook until skin begins to crackle, 20 to 25 minutes. Reduce temperature to 325 degrees and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of roast reaches 135 degrees, about 2 1/2 hours, tenting with foil if necessary. Let stand 30 minutes before slicing.
• Make the salsa verde: In a medium bowl, mix together shallot, parsley, chives, vinegar, oregano, and salt; whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Stir in mustard and lemon juice, set aside.
• Make the sandwich: Cover split sides of rolls with salsa verde. Place 3 porchetta slices and some of the crackling on one half of each of the rolls; top with arugula; and sandwich together with remaining half.

PORCHETTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the pancetta in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until it forms a paste. Transfer to a bowl and mix in by hand the garlic, citrus zests, parsley, rosemary, red pepper flakes, capers and 2 tablespoons salt until thoroughly blended.
• Put the ham flesh-side up on a cutting board and score the meat with the tip of a sharp knife every inch or so in a cross-hatch pattern. Rub the pancetta paste into the meat, making sure to get it into the score marks. Flip the ham over and score the skin with the knife as you did the flesh. Roll the ham up skin-side out and secure with kitchen twine. Season the skin lightly with salt.
• Put the pork in a roasting pan and transfer to the oven to roast for 2 hours.
• Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F and roast until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees F and the skin is nice and crisp, about 1 hour, 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let rest for 30 minutes. Thinly slice the porchetta before serving.