Lisa Boyd’s Lemon-Prosciutto Rolled Pork Loin
1 ¾ pound boneless pork loin roast, trimmed
12 thin prosciutto slices (about 6 ounces)
2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
1 large lemon, very thinly sliced
½ cup Panko crumbs (Japanese breadcrumbs)
2 tablespoons packed fresh basil leaves, julienned
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
NEEDED TOOL: Instant-read oven thermometer
Directions:
1. Place pork, fat side down, on work surface with one short end facing you.,
2. Using a long, thin, sharp knife and starting ½” above underside of the roast, cut ½” in along the right side.
3. Continue cutting ½” above the underside, unrolling roast like a carpet.
4. Arrange prosciutto evenly over pork, overlapping if necessary.
TIP: Transfer each piece of prosciutto with the plastic liner still attached. Place prosciutto directly on meat and then peel off plastic liner.
5. Lay spinach out Evelyn over prosciutto.
6. Sprinkle julienned basil and chopped thyme evenly over spinach.
7. Arrange lemon slices in 3 rows over prosciutto.
8. Sprinkle Panko crumbs evenly on top.
9. Season with ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
10. Tightly roll pork starting from the side without the fat on the underside. (You will end the roll with the side that has the fat on the underside. (You will end the roll with the side that has the fat facing upward.)
11. Arrange seam side down on work surface (fat side will be facing up) and using kitchen string, tie at 1-1 ½ “ intervals. (This can be prepared a day ahead and stored in refrigerator.)
12. When ready to bake, position oven rack in center of oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
13. Transfer pork, fat sie up, to roasting pan. Sprinkle top and sides with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
14. Roast pork for 15 minutes at 450 degrees F, then reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F and roast pork until instant-read thermometer registers 145 degrees F when inserted into center of pork. Cut twine.
Slice, serve and enjoy!