Making porchetta is arguably one of the most underrated ways to prepare pork. It’s a boneless type of pork roast that is juicy, moist, and filled with flavor. Who doesn’t want all those characteristics on their plate?!
There are lots of ways to eat this traditionally Italian dish and even more ways to make it taste unique. Luckily, it’s increasing in popularity, which is why many people across the globe have lots of questions regarding porchetta.
One question in particular that some might have after preparing the roast for meals is what to do with leftover porchetta. You don’t want such delectable meat going to waste! If you made some and there’s a lot still left, there’s absolutely no reason to throw it out.
Also, there’s no reason to get bored of eating the dish. You can do a wide range of different things with leftover porchetta and incorporate it in other meals to keep things interesting. You simply need to know how to and that’s what this article is all about!
What Exactly is Porchetta?
Did you know Italy’s Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy identified porchetta as an Italian dish that carries cultural relevance? However, porchetta is known by various names around the globe.
In America, you may have heard mention of ‘roast pork’ or ‘Italian pulled pork’? In many cases, this is in reference to porchetta. So, keep our tips in mind whenever you have some leftover pork dishes. Traditionally though, porchetta is a boneless pork roast.
This could be an entire pig, depending on who is making the dish. However, the term can also refer specifically to a pork loin around which you’ll wrap pork belly. Preparations may include roasting or spitting.
In many cases cooks will brine the meat or leave it to marinade overnight to ensure optimum flavor but also the right texture, especially of the skin of the pork belly meat. Herbs and spices that people commonly use include:
- Fennel
- Rosemary
- Garlic
Should You Serve Porchetta Hot or Cold?
Truly, the temperature is up to you and the menu you want to create. Traditionally, porchetta was often served cold, especially when people used it as a sandwich filling. But you can also serve it as a main meat dish of a hot dinner.
Some Suggestions for What to Do With Leftover Porchetta
- Use It for Pasta Dishes
One of the best ways to make your leftover porchetta useful is to use it with pasta. This is one of the easiest and most useful methods and because it’s so different than its traditional use, it will keep the week’s menu interesting. All you need to do is:
- Cut the leftover porchetta into tiny pieces
- Prepare your pasta dish, whether you’re just having pasta with porchetta, or also adding some sauce
- Spread the bits of meat over the pasta dish
- Mix it thoroughly to ensure there’s some of this flavorful meat throughout the pasta dish
It’s a simple way of making sure you don’t waste your leftovers. Also, porchetta goes well with various types of well-known pasta sauces.
You can even plan your week’s menu accordingly and use leftover pasta from one night and add an original flavor by mixing in the pork a day or two later. Simply ensure all ingredients, especially the porchetta, is fresh and fit to use.
- Make Some Quick Sandwiches
This is actually a very traditional way of using porchetta, but because of this meat’s yummy taste, chances are you usually make it as part of a main meal. Once dinner is done though, a quick and easy way to make use of leftover porchetta is to use it inside of a sandwich.
So, a light meal for later that evening or the next afternoon is taken care of! Similar to our first recipe above, this one doesn’t really require much work. But do add some fresh ingredients to create the ultimate lunch sandwich! All you have to do is:
- Cut up some vegetables, such as onions and peppers
- Also, cut the meat in thin slices rather than small pieces—this will be easy to place in a sandwich and will effortlessly stay in place while you eat your snack
- Layer everything you’ve cut between two pieces of bread
Enjoy your delicious sandwich!
If you want to make things even more delicious, experiment with different sauces. Mayonnaise, mustard, chili and garlic sauce are good options to try with porchetta on bread, but try out your favorite condiments to discover the perfect combination.
- Prepare Soup with Porchetta
Another dish to consider with leftover porchetta is using it as a soup ingredient. This is something you can try even if there isn’t much of the porchetta left, as not much meat is needed to give the soup its flavor.
So, no matter how much porchetta is left, there’s a way to use it to prepare your family another meal! Here’s the quick way to get it done:
- Cut the porchetta into little pieces.
- Also cut up vegetables—you can use almost any veggies you have available at home because the flavor in the meat as well as the broth will create a great taste.
- Toss the meat and vegetables in a large pot filled with chicken broth.
- Make sure that the broth starts to boil.
- Simmer this mixture for an hour.
Then you can serve and enjoy! This is a versatile option because you can enhance the soup’s flavor according to your preferences. Simply add herbs and spices you personally like. And that’s how porchetta becomes a yummy dish for cold winter days!
- Cook Up Fried Rice
Fried rice is a great meal that children and adults alike can enjoy. It’s also a dynamic way to use up various leftover items in your kitchen, including your leftover porchetta! The outcome is a delicious meal for the entire family.
This recipe is a bit more complicated than the ones above though, as there’s a lot more to do than just cutting up the meat. You’ll have to prepare the rice from scratch, which, depending on your culinary skills, can be tricky.
Once you have the rice ready, here’s an easy guideline to help finalize the dish:
- The first step is to cut up some onions and garlic.
- Put this into a pan and sauté them together in oil. Wait until they’ve developed a caramel-like texture.
- Next, add the leftover porchetta to the mixture.
- Now, simply pour in some soy sauce, along with any other sauces of your choice for taste.
- Lastly, add the cooked rice.
Mix all of this together and you have a meal ready to serve!
What Pairs Well with Porchetta?
Perhaps you want to try out recipes of your own, but you don’t want to unknowingly waste porchetta by using it in the wrong dishes.
Or, perhaps you want to heat up leftover porchetta but you want to give the meal a twist by making other side dishes than before? This list of ingredients and dishes that pair will with porchetta should give you a good idea how to proceed:
- Simple rice or potatoes: There’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple. Roast potatoes are an ideal dish to complement porchetta, while rice also works, especially because there’s so much flavor in this meat. For a slight twist, make your grandmother’s potato salad recipe and you’ll have a meal to remember!
- Greens: You may need some green veggies to find the perfect balance in the meal. Greens work well—think green beans or brussels sprouts—because they break through the porchetta’s richness.
- Tomato dishes: Along with potatoes or a rice dish, consider adding roasted tomatoes that will bring yummy sauce to the plate.
- Cauliflower: A vegetable that is surprisingly complementary to porchetta is cauliflower. When you serve this as ‘cauliflower steaks’—simply add some olive oil and basic seasoning—it’s an easy side dish that won’t require much time to prepare. So you can focus on getting the porchetta just right. And if you’re working with leftover porchetta, pile some meat on top of slices of cauliflower for an interesting snack.
- Salads: A fresh salad is another way to slice through the richness of porchetta meat. Whether you use tomato and mozzarella cheese, or turn to fruit like apples and pomegranates, enjoy discovering new ways to complement the pork.
Final Thoughts
Not one piece of the divine dish that is porchetta needs to go to waste. When wondering what to do with leftover porchetta, simply check what’s available in your pantry and get creative! Or use our tips as a starting point to enjoy this pork dish in an entirely new way!