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Porchetta
Porchetta

Porchetta

Jill Booth

Prep 1 hr1h
Cook 4 hrs4h
Serves 10

Although porchetta can be found throughout Italy (most notably in Lazio), it originated in the central region of Umbria. A hefty fennel flavouring sets it apart from other regional porchettas, with Umbrians basing the stuffing on the plentiful wild fennel that grows there. In Lazio, rosemary tends to be the most prominent flavouring. A true porchetta is made from whole suckling pig, stuffed with flavourings such as fennel, herbs, and indeed its own offal, cooked over a pit until perfectly tender. This is, of course, a bit of an ask for the home cook, so we've captured all of the flavours of a porchetta and adapted them into something much more easy to handle using pork belly and loin – the results are stunning.

↬ Adapted from a couple of different recipes

Ingredients

  • 2.5 kg Pork belly, boneless
  • 600 g Pork loin
  • 2 sprigs of rosemary (Leaves picked)
  • 3 sprigs of fresh thyme (Leaves picked)
  • 1 large bulb of smoked garlic
  • 1 tbsp Fennel seeds
  • 1 pinch Chilli flakes
  • 1 Lemon (Zested)
  • 2 tbsps White wine
  • 1 tsp Flaky sea salt
  • ½ tsp Cracked black pepper
  • 500 ml Water

Instructions

Keep screen awake
  • 1
    To begin, place the fennel seeds and chilli flakes in hot, dry pan and toast for , until fragrant
  • 2
    Peel the garlic cloves and place in a pestle and mortar. Add the herbs, toasted spices, salt, pepper and white wine and grind to a rough paste
  • 3
    Place the pork belly skin-side down and lay the loin across the width. Trim the loin down to size so it rolls up neatly
  • 4
    Lightly score the belly flesh in a 2cm diagonal pattern and massage the stuffing paste into the belly and loin. Place the loin back onto the belly
  • 5
    Roll up tightly, tie up with butcher's string and leave uncovered in the fridge overnight. This will dry out the skin, giving a crispier crackling
  • 6
    Preheat the oven to 160°C/gas mark 3
  • 7
    Place the pork on a wire rack set over an oven tray. Pour in the 500ml of water and cook in the oven for 3 1/2 to . Check at intervals; if the water has evaporated, add a little more
  • 8
    Leave to rest for before carving. Slice and serve warm in buttered bread rolls

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