Like the pastrami, this will be cured in a brine:
1 Gallon water
1 1/2 cups kosher salt
1 cup sugar
1 1/2oz cure
1 large bunch sage (from the garden, I love that it is still green)
2 gloves of garlic peeled and lightly smashed
Combine all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the salt and sugar.
Meanwhile trim the fat from a pork loin.
Let brine cool to room temperature, then chill (outside works perfectly today) until cold.
Add the brine to the loin in a nonreactive container. Submerge the loin - using a plate as needed to weigh it down. Refrigerate for 48 hours.
Remove the loin from the brine, rinse under cold water and pat it dry. You can see some of the deeper red color from the cure, you'll see more once we heat it up.
Put on a rack over a tray and refrigerate, uncovered for 12-24 hours.
At this point the recipe call for a hot smoke but I will cold smoke it, then finish in the same slow oven as the pastrami.
In the smoker... (with pastrami and the duck breasts)
After 6 hours out of the smoker.
Ready for the slow (275F) oven to finish cooking. The color change should be dramatic if cured properly.
Out of the oven. Beautiful color
, it tightened up a lot. This thing is a brick.
, it tightened up a lot. This thing is a brick.Have to have a taste.- As you might suspect the end pieces will be somewhat salty, but the flavor is great. This is so easy, just takes time.
The next morning sliced it up for packaging in six slice packs. Headed to the freezer, but not before we do a final taste test.
Where it all comes together!
Until next time, Eat Well & Keep Digging!
The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
I love these posts. I don't know how to do any of this and I am learning so much. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Becky, Thanks! I recommend the book Charcuterie by Michael Ruhlman and Brian Polcyn. It is straightforward and there is enough "easy" recipes to dip your toe in. You broke down a deer, you can easily do this!
ReplyDeleteHey David, just noticed the picture that looked suspiciously like an English breakfast, so read what you did to the bacon and have a suggestion. If you slice it before cooking, you get 'English' bacon - the best ever! Really hard to come across over here and expensive. Once sliced it can be treated the same way as American bacon. Just a thought!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo! So Slice the loin and then bake it? We'll have to talk.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
No, you don't bake it at all, you cook it like you would regular bacon - on a griddle.
ReplyDeleteThen for a real English treat put it between a couple of thick slices of fresh bread with a dollop of HP sauce (from World Market) ...Mmmmm - bacon butties!