Homemade Porketta Seasoning Recipes

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 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.

IRON RANGE PORCHETTA SEASONING

Steps:

• Add the basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, fennel seeds, dried celery, parsley, and red pepper flakes (optional) to a small lidded container. Shake to combine.
• Add the onion salt, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to a small lidded container. Shake to combine.
• When ready to use, apply the grass first, followed by the salt and pepper mix.

PORKETTA ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, combine the dill seed, fennel seed, oregano, lemon pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. Mix well and apply to the roast. Place roast in a 10x15 inch roasting pan.
• Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until internal pork temperature reaches 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

PORKETTA

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cut the roast in half lengthwise and open it like a book. Combine the salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, fennel seeds and olive oil in a small bowl. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the pork, pressing the fennel seeds and garlic into the meat. Spread the chopped fennel bulb over the meat, the fold the meat back together and tie it with a string.
• Place the meat in a roasting pan, cover and bake for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. Toward the last 40-50 minutes of cooking, scatter the potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and onions in the roasting pan around the meat, and continue to cook until pork is cooked through and falls apart when touched with a fork. Stir the vegetables now and then so they brown evenly.
• Allow meat to sit for 5 minutes on a cutting board. To serve, pull the pork apart (instead of slicing), and serve with the roasted vegetables. Garnish with feathery fennel tops.

PORKETTA

Steps:

• Place fennel, dill, anise seeds, dried oregano and salt in mortar and crush using a pestle (or place in plastic bag and pound) until most of seeds are crushed.
• Add all other dry seasoning and mix well.
• Wash and dry roast.
• I enjoy the spices that are both inside and outside on a roast. So, I slice roast in order to "unroll" the roast. (This all depends on thickness of roast. I get butcher to cut me a 4 pound roast and at this size there is enough meat to slice and roll out.) I cut down into roast and then start cutting in circle (I am no expert, but generally, I can get a roast to open up. And it does not need to be perfect!).
• Lay roast out flat.
• Insert whole garlic cloves into the meat (may need to slice open areas to crate a fold).
• Rub olive oil on roast, top and bottom. (Helps to hold the seasonings.).
• Apply seasoning to top (the inside of a rolled up roast), leaving enough seasonings to coat the outside of roast.
• Once seasoning applied to top (inside), roll up the roast and secure with twine.
• Apply remaining seasoning to outside of roast.
• Place in roaster/pan, (if there is fat on roast, place the fat side up) cover and place in refrigerator for two hours. (This step can be skipped and or extended longer).
• Add chicken stock to roaster/pan.
• Bake uncovered at 325 degrees for 30 minutes (to brown or crisp outside of roast).
• Cover and continue to bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours or until done (internal temperature of 160 degrees F) (I uncover for last 15 minutes to again brown or crisp outside of roast).
• Once done, remove from oven, place on serving tray and cover. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Slice and serve, leftovers make for great sandwiches.
• You can add cut potatoes and carrots to roaster and season as you wish. I added them in last 1 - 1 1/2 hour of cooking time (depends on how soft ones like the vegetables).