Cook Italian Street Food Right in Your Home Kitchen!
<p>When I find an open-air market somewhere in Italy, I consider it to
be good fortune. But when I find an open air market where some
miracle worker is tending a Porchetta over an open fire, I consider
it to be serendipity.
<p>Porchetta (pronounced 'por-KEH-ta') is roasted whole pig, but the
description hardly does the dish justice. Using techniques handed
down for generations, Italians clean and dress whole pigs with an
mixture of herbs and spices, then roast them for several hours over
an open fire, before carving off slices and serving them on slabs of
crusty bread splashed with red wine vinegar.
<p>Fortunately, an enterprising Italian chef devised a method for
cooking pork loin on the stove, with an outcome very similar
to porchetta. Instead of using an open fire, cook the loin, covered
with water, on the stove, then brown it to achieve a crust.
<p>Ordinarily, Porchetta is street food, but you can dress this up
considerably for service at the table. You may be sitting in
the dining room, but you'll feel like you're at an open-air market in
Tuscany.
<p><b>Ingredients:</b>
<ul>
<li>4 - 6 fresh Sage leaves
<li>2 - 4 sprigs fresh Rosemary, leaves only
<li>2 - 4 cloves garlic, peeled
<li>1 Bay leaf
<li>Salt & freshly ground black pepper
<li>1 - 2 Tbs. Olive Oil
<li>3 - 3 &frac; Lb. Boneless loin of pork
<li>Salt
<li>2 - 4 Tbs. Olive Oil
</ul>
<p><b>Preparation:</b>
<p>Chop the herbs, garlic, salt & pepper, either by hand or in a food
processor. Add enough olive oil to make the mixture into a paste.
<p>Untie the pork loin and lay flat, with the boned (rough) side facing
up. Spread generously with the herb mixture, then sprinkle with more
freshly ground black pepper. Re-tie the roast with kitchen twine. You
can do this the evening before you plan to serve the roast, or
earlier in the day.
<p>Put the roast in a heavy pot just large enough to accommodate it, and
add just enough water to barely cover it. Add about 1 Tbs. salt to
the pot and bring to the boil, skimming off any scum that rises to
the surface. When the water boils, lower the heat to medium, so it's
not boiling, but bubbling fairly briskly. Cook until the water boils
off--about one hour.
<p>Add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan, and continue
cooking over medium heat and, when the roast develops an nice crust
all over, remove to a warm platter and allow it to rest for
aproximately fifteen minutes.
<p>Serves six.
<p>As always, I wish you Buon Appetito.
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About the Author:
Skip Lombardi is the author of two cookbooks: "La Cucina dei Poveri:
Recipes from my Sicilian Grandparents," and "Almost Italian: Recipes
from America's Little Italys." He has been a Broadway musician, high-
school math teacher, and software engineer, but has never let any of
those pursuits get in the way of his passion for cooking and eating.
Visit his site to learn more about his cookbooks.
http://www.skiplombardi.com or mailto:info@skiplombardi.com
About The Author: (C) 2004 by Skip Lombardi
Skip Lombardi is the author of two cookbooks: "La Cucina dei Poveri: Recipes from my Sicilian Grandparents," and "Almost Italian: Recipes from America's Little Italys." He has been a Broadway musician, high-school math teacher, and software engineer, but has never let any of those pursuits get in the way of his passion for cooking and eating. Visit his site to learn more about his cookbooks.
http://www.skiplombardi.com or mailto:info@skiplombardi.com
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