I'm trying to master a home version of the Roman dish called Porchetta. The authentic version apparently uses a boned whole pig that is heavily seasoned and cooked overnight in a pit, but that's a little beyond my skill level, so I'm working on a home version, which is a pork shoulder rubbed with a mixture of fennel, rosemary, and garlic and cooked very slowly, sort of like an Italian version of pulled pork.
I've tried cooking it in a roasting pan on my gas grill set on the lowest heat it will produce (just one burner on the lowest setting), but the fat drippings accumulate in the pan and ultimately catch fire, which is a bit of a disaster. I could periodically drain them out but that's more work and mess than I had in mind, so I've been thinking of using my pellet smoker instead. For a change, I don't want a strong smoke flavor because that would probably clash with the seasonings, and might offend my Italian neighbors. Can I just set it on the low-smoke mode at the required temperature (about 225) and cook to the recommended internal temperature as usual? Any suggestions for a pellet flavor that's pretty neutral and won't make it taste like a strange version of American barbecue?
Many thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide!
I've tried cooking it in a roasting pan on my gas grill set on the lowest heat it will produce (just one burner on the lowest setting), but the fat drippings accumulate in the pan and ultimately catch fire, which is a bit of a disaster. I could periodically drain them out but that's more work and mess than I had in mind, so I've been thinking of using my pellet smoker instead. For a change, I don't want a strong smoke flavor because that would probably clash with the seasonings, and might offend my Italian neighbors. Can I just set it on the low-smoke mode at the required temperature (about 225) and cook to the recommended internal temperature as usual? Any suggestions for a pellet flavor that's pretty neutral and won't make it taste like a strange version of American barbecue?
Many thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide!
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