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Alex Raij of La Vara warns us that this family recipe for the classic Basque, logo adobado, “isn’t elegant or even particularly gourmet, but in a cuisine that doesn’t fall victim to culinary fashion, this dish is a mainstay… It gives and accepts flavor” and we wouldn’t have it any other way. The unbelievably vivid flavors at Raij’s La Vara(as well as El Quinto Pino and Txikito) are why Alex’s restaurants are perennial favorites on food. curated.

La Vara's Paprika-Marinated Pork Loin Roast

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Prep Time 45 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 45 mins
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 5lb Berkshire or Kurobuta pork loin roast with fat cap intact, if possible
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 10 cloves garlic
  • 1/3 cup olive oil extra virgin
  • 1/4 cup hot Spanish paprika
  • 1/4 cup sweet Spanish paprika
  • 1 cup Kosher salt

Instructions
 

  • In a food processor, combine the salt and garlic cloves and pulse until you have a rough paste, about 15 times, then add the water, a little at a time, pulsing to form a thick but smooth paste. Rub the paste onto the pork roast, covering evenly, and cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Rinse off the paste and pat the pork dry. In a small bowl, stir together the hot and sweet paprikas, then stir in the oil to make a paste. Smear a thin layer over the pork loin and wrap the loin in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
  • The next day, let the pork loin come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Unwrap the loin and scrape off any excess paprika paste to keep it from burning. Place the loin in a baking dish or roasting pan with a rack, place in the oven, and immediately turn down the heat to 300°F. Roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the loin registers 145°F. The timing will depend on the thickness of the cut.
  • Let the meat rest for 10 minutes, tented with foil, then slice and serve immediately.

Notes

 
Raij_Basque
If you don’t have time to roast it in one piece, cure the whole thing and cut it into slices, cooking them like boneless pork chops, which is very common in the Basque Country.
Try this recipe out and check out so many other wonderful recipes from La Vara's Alex Raij, with her book, A Love Letter in Recipes.  Happy Eating!
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