As with all beginners it seems, I initially was very confused about the amount of cure to use. Although this has become a lot clearer thanks to this site. In all of the recipes I've attempted I've used ~0.25% grammes of cure to grammes of meat. This seams consistent with most recipes I've found online and with the instructions on the packet.
I've jumped in at the deep and I'm trying four recipies:
Pancetta
I first saw this recipe on Jason Molinari's blog (thanks++ - your blog was what kicked the whole thing off for me). I've pretty much followed his recipe to the letter:
- pork 1175.0
- salt 28.2
- black pepper 21.7
- brown sugar 13.5
- cure#2 3.1
- juniper 5.1
- bay 0.8
- nutmeg 2.2
- thyme 1.4
- garlic x1
The second recipe I've tried is a coppa. I had a little difficulty getting the cut but managed to get hold of a very small piece. Again I've followed Jason's recipe but I've upped the fennel a little and included a little rosemary.
- pork 375.0
- salt 13.1
- white pepper 3.8
- cloves 0.4
- cinnamon 0.3
- cure#2 0.9
- juniper 0.8
- fennel 1.3
- rosemary 0.5
Followed Jason's recipe again. I used tenderloin instead of the actual loin by mistake, hence the small piece of meat. I'm hoping that it will turn out ok.
- pork 335.0
- salt 11.1
- white pepper 3.2
- cure#2 0.8
- juniper 0.7
- fenel seed 1.7
- cinnamon 0.2
- clove x1
This is a complete experiment. I've based it on the lonzino, but included garlic, sugar and paprika.
- pork 235.0
- salt 8.2
- white pepper 2.4
- brown sugar 2.7
- paprika 3.5
- cure#2 0.6
- bay 0.2
- fennel 0.8
- garlic x1
Have I made any terrible mistakes here? Comments most welcome.