Porchetta (por-KET-tah) is an entire pig that has been boned, stuffed and slowly roasted. The skin is very crisp, the garlicky stuffing is very flavorful* and the meat…ah, the meat! If you dream of great pork, it’s the stuff dreams are made of. After the first bite, you’ll be dreaming of it for the rest of your life.

*A mixture of fennel seed, garlic, lemon zest, rosemary, sage and other seasonings.

Italians have been enjoying porchetta for some time; mentions in Roman records date back to 400 B.C.E. It was frequently served at Roman banquets and was a favorite of Emperor Nero (37-68 C.E.). Today, the Italian Agricultural Ministry lists porchetta as a prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale, one of the nation’s culturally significant foods.

Porchetta is pure pork paradise. The products from Porchetta Primata, a Kentucky-based company, are the best pork we’ve ever tasted. We discovered the company at a major food trade show. Among some 1,300 exhibitors and 80,000 products, it was the best thing we tasted.

With crisp skin, moist meat and garlicky
seasoning, porchetta is a feast. Photo by
Foodlovers | Fotolia.

Even better, the porchetta arrives ready to heat and eat. It can be eaten at room temperature or cold, but the excellent fat tastes better warm.

The meat needs no sauce, but serve it with roasted potatoes and seasonal greens. Broccoli rabe, spinach or Swiss chard, blanched and then sautéed with olive oil and garlic, are good choices. Pour a nice Chianti, a Côtes du Rhône, Pinot Noir or a hearty ale.

• Read the rest of the review to see how we enjoyed our porchetta, plus more photos of the roasts and the entire pig!

• Learn your pork cuts, heirloom pigs and more in our Pork Glossary.

• Find more Top Pick Of The Week Meats.