Looking for a new spice rub for pork shoulder in the crock pot? Want to do something different with the pork ribs for the BBQ? Whether you’re roasting a fresh ham or just pan frying some pork chops, this spice rub is perfect for pork.
Fresh Ham, the Other Roast
Like a leg of lamb, fresh ham (the uncured leg of the pig) is often associated with Easter meals. Unlike the smoky mountain hams or cured hams, fresh ham is more like other roasts you might make. You can fresh ham in your grocery most of the year. You can also ask your butcher to set one aside for you. After watching a recent butchering demo, bringing home a leg offered a chance to practice home butchering skills by boning out the ham. It was also a chance to practice the skill of tying a roast.
How to Tie a Roast
When you learn to tie a roast you will have mastered a classic culinary technique that’s useful in many ways. You tie a roast to give it uniform shape and even cooking. The technique can be used for chicken, fish, pork and for many different cuts.
Practice on a bag of dried beans or a roll of paper towels. Tie a loop around one end, then make a series of loops, flip the roast over and loop the twine around each loop, flip again and tie to original loop. You will end up with parallel rings of twine holding the sides of the roast in, and one length-wise loop that will pull it all together.
Roasting a Fresh Ham
Having a special meal on a regular week night is easier than you think. Roasts require little in terms of time and attention making preparation a breeze. The active prep time on this roast was probably 10-15 minutes, including grinding the spices and tying the roast!
Garlic Scape Pesto and Barley
Garlic scapes make their appearance in farmers’ market in late Spring to early Summer. Scapes are the green shoot of garlic bulbs and are sometimes called “green garlic.” They are crunchy and more pungent that scallions, but milder than a bulb of garlic. As part of the allium family share some terrific health and nutrition benefits. High in calcium, very high in vitamin C, they also have allicin which is a natural anti-microbial chemical. Allicin is responsible for garlic’s sharp smell and taste and is known to help fight infections. Some studies have also suggested it may help prevent bacteria-related food poisoning. Its effects on blood clots and some cancers is also being investigated. While some people take garlic supplements, it’s established that the allicin is itself very fragile. It can begin to degrade within hours. For maximum benefit - fresh is best!
Garlic scapes make a striking side dish, and are easy to throw on the grill, whip into pesto or add to a stir-fry. Tonight, garlic scape pesto dressed up plain barley cooked in a risotto style.
Barley is enjoying new popularity both for flavor and health benefits, too. It’s one of the best grains to regulate blood sugar (the glycemic index we hear so much about). It’s high in essential amino acids, fantastic for reducing cholesterol - but more to the point: it’s delicious. It’s slightly nutty, a little chewy.
Spice rubs are easy to make at home and allow you to tailor your meals to your palate. Choose spices to complement the protein at hand. Here, since the roast is fresh ham the spice rub contains fennel and cardamom both of which are very complementary to pork. Fennel pollen is so magical, it's said to come from angels' wings, and it's perfect with pork.
All-Purpose Pork Spice Rub
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp fennel ground
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp fennel pollen
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp sage
- 1/2 tsp ground blk pepper
- 2 bay leaves
Directions:
- Grind in spice grinder or crush in mortar and pestle. Adjust seasoning to your taste.
- Sprinkle over pork and pat to cover. Wrap in plastic for two hours or as long as overnight.
Jacqueline Church - Award-winning writer, speaker, teacher on topics at the intersection of gourmet and sustainable food issues.
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