Chef Johns Baby Porchetta Food

CHEF JOHN'S PORCHETTA

Steps:

• Place pork roast on a work surface. Use a sharp knife to make a lengthwise cut about 1 inch from the edge of the meat, slicing down but not cutting through. Open the meat flat along the cut. Keeping the knife parallel to the cutting board, continue to slice the roast open so you can unroll it into a large, flat piece. (You can also ask your butcher to butterfly the roast for you.) When the meat is unrolled, make small slashes through any connective tissue or extra-thick parts so the roast is as even in thickness as possible.
• Drizzle cut surface with 2 teaspoons olive oil. Rub oil into meat and generously season with 2 teaspoons kosher salt, black pepper, sage, rosemary, orange zest, garlic, and crushed fennel seeds. Press seasonings in firmly with your hand, roll up the pork roast, and tie the roast in several places with kitchen twine.
• Place the pork roast on a rack, set the rack on a plate, and sprinkle meat with remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate the roast uncovered overnight to dry-age.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Lightly oil a baking dish and place roast into dish. Rub meat with 2 teaspoons olive oil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until outside is seared, 15 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) and continue to roast 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 roast with foil and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice thinly to serve.
• Mash anchovy fillet in a small bowl and add red pepper flakes, white wine vinegar, and Italian parsley. Stir to combine. Serve drizzled on pork.

PORCHETTA (PORK BELLY-WRAPPED PORK LOIN)

Steps:

• Score the skin of the pork belly in a diamond pattern; avoid cutting all the way through to the meat.
• Combine garlic, olive oil, lemon zest, fennel seeds, coriander, sage, rosemary leaves, oregano, and cayenne pepper in a blender; pulse into a paste.
• Rub pork belly and pork loin with salt. Flip pork belly so the skin is facing down. Place the loin in the center and wrap the belly around it. Cut off any overlapping ends of the belly and any overhanging portions of the loin; you want a nice, neat package.
• Unwrap the belly from the loin. Rub all sides of the loin with the paste; don't skimp-use all of it. Re-roll the belly around the loin. Pat the skin dry with a paper towel and use kitchen twine to tie it off in 2-inch segments. (This will make it hold its appealing cylinder shape as it cooks.)
• Place roast on a wire rack on top of a rimmed pan or pot. Place in the refrigerator, uncovered, until the skin is air-dried, about 48 hours.
• When ready to cook, remove roast from the refrigerator. Transfer to a roasting pan and let sit for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• Place the roast in the lower half of the preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and cook until meat is tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reads 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), about 2 1/2 more hours.
• Remove from the oven and tent with foil; let sit for 30 minutes. Remove twine and cut into 1-inch slices. Serve immediately.

CHEF JOHN'S DUTCH BABIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Blend milk, flour, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt together in a blender until batter is smooth.
• Melt clarified butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat until bubbling; pour batter into the center of the skillet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Brush with 1 tablespoon butter, drizzle lemon juice over the top, and dust with confectioners' sugar.