Best Porchetta Pork Belly Wrapped Pork Loin Recipes

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, CRISPY PORK BELLY

Steps:

• A day before you are going to make the porchetta, place the pork belly on an tray that will fit in your fridge. Sprinkle belly generously with salt. Leave it in the fridge, uncovered overnight up to 24 hours. Dab any liquid with paper towel as you see it. This step is to help dry out the belly so it crisps up easily when cooking.
• Once ready to cook, score the fatty side of pork belly 1/3" deep so you will see score marks after cooking. (Score in two directions making a checkerboard.) Be sure to score evenly so the roast cooks evenly.
• Place scored side face down. On inside, spread mustard over entire top of belly. Then sprinkle evenly all herbs (thyme, parsley, sage, red pepper flakes, rosemary) garlic and orange zest.
• Arrange loin in center. Roll belly around loin so the short ends of the belly meet. If any of the belly or loin overhangs, trim meat.
• Roll belly around loin; tie crosswise with kitchen twine at 1/2" intervals. See video in post for specific example. Trim twine. Transfer roast to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet.
• Let porchetta sit at room temp for 1 hour. Then Preheat oven to 500°. Season with salt generously then place roast in the oven for 40 minutes, turning once at 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 300°F and continue roasting, rotating the pan and turning porchetta occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of meat registers 145°F, 1 1/2-2 hours more. If crust is not yet deep brown and crisp, increase heat to 500°F and roast for 10 minutes more. Let rest for 30 minutes. Using a serrated knife, slice into 1/2" rounds.
• Serve with herby sauce.

PORCHETTA

Steps:

• Put belly skin side down; arrange loin in center. Roll belly around loin so the short ends of the belly meet. If any of the belly or loin overhangs, trim meat. Unroll; set loin aside.
• Toast fennel seeds and red pepper flakes in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Tip spices into a bowl; let cool. Finely grind spices in a spice mill and transfer to a small bowl, along with the sage, rosemary, and garlic; set fennel mixture aside.
• Assemble porchetta according to steps 1-5.
• Refrigerate roast, uncovered, for 1-2 days to allow skin to air-dry; pat occasionally with paper towels.
• Let porchetta sit at room temperature for 2 hours. Preheat oven to 500°F. Season porchetta with salt. Roast on rack in baking sheet, turning once, for 40 minutes. Reduce heat to 300°F and continue roasting, rotating the pan and turning porchetta occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of meat registers 145°F, 1 1/2-2 hours more. If skin is not yet deep brown and crisp, increase heat to 500°F and roast for 10 minutes more. Let rest for 30 minutes. Using a serrated knife, slice into 1/2" rounds.
• To assemble:
• 1. Set belly skin side down. Using a knife, score the belly flesh in a checkerboard pattern 1/3" deep so roast will cook evenly.
• 2. Flip belly skin side up. Using a paring knife, poke dozens of 1/8"-deep holes through skin all over belly. Don't be gentle! Keep poking.
• 3. Using the jagged edge of a meat mallet, pound skin all over for 3 minutes to tenderize, which will help make skin crispy when roasted.
• 4. Turn belly and generously salt both it and loin; rub both with fennel mixture. Arrange loin down middle of belly. Top with orange slices.
• 5. Roll belly around loin; tie crosswise with kitchen twine at 1/2" intervals. Trim twine. Transfer roast to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet.

PANCETTA-WRAPPED PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Blend the garlic, rosemary, thyme, and oil in a small food processor, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally, until the garlic is minced.
• Sprinkle the pork roast generously with salt and pepper. Arrange the pancetta slices on a work surface, overlapping slightly and forming a rectangle. Spread half of the garlic mixture over 1 side of the pork and between the 2 loins that meet in the center of the tied pork roast. Place the pork, garlic mixture side down, in the center of the pancetta rectangle. Spread the remaining garlic mixture over the remaining pork. Wrap the pancetta slices around the pork. Place the pork in a roasting pan. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pour 1/2 cup of broth and 1/2 cup of wine into the roasting pan. Add more broth and wine to the pan juices every 20 minutes. Roast the pork until a meat thermometer inserted into the center registers 145 degrees F for medium-rare, about 1 hour. Transfer the pork to a cutting board. Tent with aluminum foil and let stand for 10 minutes. Pour the pan drippings into a glass measuring cup and spoon off any fat that rises to the top.
• Using a large sharp carving knife, cut the pork into 1/4-inch-thick slices and serve with the pan juices.

CHEF JOHN'S BABY PORCHETTA

Steps:

• Crush fennel seeds in mortar with a pestle for 1 minute. Add garlic, sage, pepper, rosemary, salt, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest; pound into a thick paste, 2 or 3 minutes. Add olive oil and pound until rub is evenly incorporated.
• Cut a slit 3/4 of the way through the center of the tenderloin, leaving 1 inch on each end uncut. Spread 1 tablespoon of the rub inside the slit; close up roast. Spread the remaining rub evenly over the roast. Wrap bacon strips around the roast, trying to keep seams on the bottom.
• Wrap roast in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; place roast in the center.
• Roast in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 134 degrees F (57 degrees C), about 25 minutes. Let roast rest for 10 minutes and internal temperature rise to 140 to 145 degrees F (60 to 63 degrees C).

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.