Porchetta is a slow roasted shoulder or belly of pork which is commonly sold wrapped up in paper parcels from roadside vendors with crispy crackling throughout Northern Italy. Irresistible as it is, slow roasting a joint for a speedy weeknight dinner is not an option. Instead this quick version borrows the recipe for porchetta’s aromatic stuffing and is rubbed into a butterflied pork loin wrapped up in salty prosciutto. Serve it with thinly sliced roast potatoes liberally sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, and a fresh watercress salad- dinner is served!
For the porchetta:
800g pork tenderloin, trimmed
3 sprigs of rosemary, leaves finely chopped
4 sage leaves, finely chopped
1 tbsp fennel seeds
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Zest of 1 lemon, finely chopped
100g prosciutto
Sea salt & black pepper
For the Parmesan crusted potatoes:
800g waxy potatoes, shaved on a mandolin
2 onions, thinly sliced
50g Parmesan cheese, grated
Sea salt and ground black pepper
For the watercress salad:
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp red wine vinegar
150g watercress
Large baking tray
Food processor
Small bowl