Porchetta Ravioli Recipes

PORCHETTA

Steps:

• Get your meat out of the fridge and up to room temperature before you cook it.
• For the stuffing, peel and finely chop the onions, finely slice the pancetta, then place in a large frying pan on a medium-high heat with 6 tablespoons of oil, the butter and fennel seeds. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly, while you finely chop the chicken livers and herb leaves.
• Stir the livers into the pan, followed by the herbs and 50ml of wine. Roughly chop and add the dried fruit, along with the pine nuts. Cook and stir for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and leave to cool.
• Finely grate over the Parmesan. Toast the breadcrumbs and use your hands to mix them into the cool stuffing.
• Place the pork loin on a board, skin side down, open it out and push it down flat. Season generously with sea salt and black pepper, then pour over and massage in half the Vin Santo.
• Scatter over the stuffing, pour over the remaining Vin Santo, then roll up the pork, patting on and compacting the stuffing as you go.
• Sit it with the seam underneath and tie with butcher's string to secure it, then score the skin and into the fat with your knife. Season generously and rub all over with oil.
• When you're ready to cook, preheat the oven to full whack (240ºC/475ºF/gas 9).
• Wash the carrots and place in a large roasting tray. Sit the porchetta on top, then pour in 500ml of water and the remaining 325ml of wine.
• Place in the hot oven for 30 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4 and leave to cook for 4 to 5 hours, or until the meat is really tender, basting now and again.
• Remove the porchetta to a board to rest for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, place the roasting tray over a medium heat on the hob.
• Skim away most of the fat from the surface into a jar, cool, and place in the fridge for tasty cooking another day. Stir the flour into the tray, mashing the carrots and scraping up all those gnarly bits from the base.
• Pour in the stock, and simmer until the gravy is the consistency of your liking, stirring occasionally.
• Strain the gravy through a coarse sieve, pushing all the goodness through with the back of a spoon, then season to perfection.
• Carve up the beautiful porchetta, and serve it as you wish.

RAVIOLI WITH LEMON, PEAS AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, cook the pancetta in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, turning, until browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and wipe out the skillet.
• Add the ravioli to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain gently.
• Combine the butter and lemon zest and juice in the reserved skillet over medium heat. Add the peas, ravioli and 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water; toss to coat. Stir in the pecorino and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Add more cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to loosen.
• Divide the ravioli, peas and any sauce among shallow bowls. Sprinkle with more pecorino. Crumble the pancetta and scatter over the ravioli. Top with basil.

PORCHETTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit Butterfly meat until about 2-inches thick around. Season with garlic and fresh herbs and spices to your taste. From the narrow end, roll tightly toward the broad end. Place fat or skin over roll and tie to secure. Bake for 20 minutes per pound. For a crispier skin, roast at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for the first 20 minutes then reduce heat to 350 degrees until done. Slice and serve as you wish.

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.