Chef John's Porchetta

Chef John's Porchetta
  • PREP TIME
    20 mins
  • COOK TIME
    1 hrs 15 mins
  • TOTAL TIME
    9 hrs 45 mins
  • SERVING
    6 People
  • VIEWS
    103

This simplified porchetta, crafted from pork shoulder, delivers the classic Italian flavors in a more approachable format. Perfectly suited for sandwiches or as a flavorful main course, it's especially delightful when paired with crispy pancetta and a vibrant anchovy dressing.

Ingridients

Adjust Servings

Nutrition

  • Carbohydrate
    3 g
  • Cholesterol
    71 mg
  • Fiber
    1 g
  • Protein
    20 g
  • Saturated Fat
    6 g
  • Sodium
    1032 mg
  • Sugar
    0 g
  • Fat
    19 g
  • Unsaturated Fat
    0 g

Follow The Directions

01

Step

Prepare the Pork: Lay the pork roast on a clean work surface. Using a sharp knife, make a lengthwise cut about 1 inch from the edge, slicing down without cutting through the meat. Open the meat flat along the cut. Keep the knife parallel to the cutting board, and continue slicing to unroll the roast into a large, flat piece. Alternatively, ask your butcher to butterfly it for you. Once unrolled, make small slashes through any thick connective tissue to ensure an even thickness. (Approximately 15 minutes)

02

Step

Season and Roll: Drizzle the cut surface with 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Rub the oil into the meat, then generously season with 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, black pepper, sage, rosemary, orange zest, garlic, and crushed fennel seeds. Press the seasonings firmly into the meat with your hands. Roll up the pork roast tightly and tie it securely in several places with kitchen twine. (Approximately 10 minutes)

03

Step

Dry-Age: Place the tied pork roast on a rack set over a plate. Sprinkle the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt over the meat. Refrigerate the roast, uncovered, overnight to allow the skin to dry-age. (Approximately 12-24 hours)

04

Step

Sear and Roast: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Lightly oil a baking dish and place the roast inside. Rub the exterior of the meat with 2 teaspoons of olive oil. (Approximately 5 minutes)

05

Step

Bake and Rest: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes to sear the outside. Then, reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) and continue roasting until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the roast reads 145 degrees F (65 degrees C), about 1 hour more. Loosely cover the roast with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing thinly. (Approximately 1 hour 25 minutes)

06

Step

Prepare the Anchovy Dressing: In a small bowl, mash the anchovy fillet. Add the red pepper flakes, white wine vinegar, and chopped Italian parsley. Stir to combine. (Approximately 5 minutes)

07

Step

Serve: Drizzle the anchovy dressing over the sliced porchetta and serve immediately. Enjoy!

For extra crispy skin, ensure the pork is as dry as possible before roasting. You can even pat it down with paper towels before applying the final oil rub.
Don't skip the resting period. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful roast.
Feel free to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes in the anchovy dressing to suit your spice preference.
The rendered pork fat from the roasting process can be reserved and used for cooking other dishes, adding a rich and savory flavor.

Chadrick Hahn

Written by

Our recipe authors are passionate food lovers who share thousands of diverse dishes from around the world. They bring daily cooking inspiration with delicious, easy-to-make recipes for every occasion.

RECIPE REVIEWS

Avarage Rating: 4.7/ 5 ( 34 Ratings)
Total Reviews: (8)
  • Ella Greenfelder

    This recipe is amazing! The pork was so tender and flavorful, and the crust was perfectly crispy.

  • Macie Bernier

    Next time I'll try adding a bit of orange zest to the sauce as well.

  • Cara Batz

    The anchovy sauce is surprisingly good. Don't be afraid to try it!

  • Gregg Colepowlowski

    I used dried herbs instead of fresh, and it still turned out great.

  • Assunta Kilback

    I had some trouble finding a boneless pork shoulder, but my butcher was able to help me out.

  • Vada Walsh

    This is now my go-to recipe for porchetta. Thanks for sharing!

  • Hipolito Hamill

    The dry-aging step is totally worth it. The skin gets so crispy!

  • Odie Stroman

    I made this for a dinner party and it was a huge hit. Everyone raved about it!

LEAVE A REVIEW

Please Rate