A good roast pork loin recipe is a great addition to your regular dishes. Pork loin is a really easy joint – not too fatty and easy to carve. It’s great for Sunday lunch, Christmas and cold-weather meals, entertaining and family dinners. A great benefit to this recipe: You can make it ahead of time and simply allow it to come to room temperature before you serve it. It also features lovely crackling, which some people think is the best part of all.
The cooking time for this roast pork loin gives you meat that is ever so slightly pink, but cook it longer if you prefer. As usual when buying pork, get the best you can afford.
Diana Henry’s roast pork loin with juniper, rosemary & cider
Be sure to leave enough time for chilling beforehand, preferably overnight, then to bring the meat to room temperature before cooking.
- 1.5 kg-1.8kg loin of pork (off the bone, scored)
- 6 cloves garlic (cut into slivers)
- Leaves from 4 sprigs rosemary
- 10 juniper berries
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 150 ml dry cider
- 400 ml chicken stock
The day before
- Lay the pork on a board, flesh side up. Make a slit down the centre of the meat approx 2-3cm deep. Then, with the knife horizontal, cut a little way towards the outer edges, opening up the pork. Make incisions all over this with a sharp knife and push the slivers of garlic into them. Roughly crush the rosemary and juniper berries with sea salt flakes and pepper in a pestle and mortar, then gradually add the olive oil. Transfer the pork to a roasting tin (that will fit in your fridge). Rub the pounded mixture all over the meat, pushing it down into the incisions. Cover with clingfilm and leave in the fridge overnight.
On the day
- Bring the pork to room temperature before you want to cook it. Preheat the oven to 220°C, gas mark 7. Roll the loin and tie it at intervals with kitchen string. Season the skin well with sea salt. Roast for 15 minutes, then turn the heat down to 180°C, gas mark 4 and cook for 1½ hours, basting every so often. Transfer to a warm serving platter (or a tray with a lip). Cover with foil, insulate (I use old tea towels) and leave to rest for 15 minutes or so.
- Set the roasting tin over a low heat and add the cider. Heat, scraping to dislodge all the bits stuck to the base. Pour into a glass jug and add a good handful of ice cubes – this will drive the fat to the surface. Lift the fat off with a spoon. Strain and return the skimmed mixture to the roasting tin. Boil until reduced by half. Add the stock and boil until you have juices that are the consistency and depth of flavour you like (it doesn’t have to be thick – well-flavoured juices are what you’re after).
- Carve the pork and serve with the cider gravy and the fennel. Mashed or little potatoes roasted in olive oil would be good on the side.
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