Porchetta Pierino

• Porchetta (the pig)
• 5 pounds fresh pork picnic shoulder, bone in (you will bone it out or your butcher will do it). If you are deft with a boning knife it's not difficult.
• 1 fistful of kosher salt
• ground white pepper
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1 bunch fresh chives, chopped (optional)
• 1 tablespoon fennel pollen, or alternatively fennel seed ground in a spice grinder. See note below.
• 2 branches fresh rosemary, leaves finely chopped
• 1 cup good olive oil
• 1 cup white wine (for basting)
• 6 or 8 crusty Italian sandwich rolls
• Salsa Verde (Italian style)
• 1 bunch flat leaf parsley
• 2 anchovy filets either salt packed (rinsed) or in oil (avoid 'pizza' anchovies!).
• 2 tablespoons salt packed capers (rinsed)
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 light dash of red wine vinegar

1. In a bowl, mix the "pig" herbs together with the olive oil.
2. Once you have boned out that handsome shoulder (you saved the bone, right) spread it open and slash the skin in a diamond shape pattern, like two 'x's, but don't cut all the way through to the meat. Turn it over and slash some pockets into the meat, being careful not to cut all the way through to the skin and fat layer (see what I mean?). Rub about 3/4 of the herb and olive oil mixture into the flesh. If you have the edible flowers from your rosemary (that's an option) add them now before assembly. Meanwhile preheat oven to 450?.
3. Reform the ham and then tie it up like a salami or a fetish model, using one long single piece of cooking twine.
4. Rub the tied up ham with olive oil and more coarse salt and then more of the herb/oil mix
5. Place in a roasting pan and after 20 minutes in the hot oven baste with white wine and turn heat down to about 350?. Baste every 20 minutes with more wine and pan juices until the internal temp reaches 145?. Allow to rest, covered for at least 10 minutes before slicing very thinly.
6. Now while your pig is cooking/resting make the salsa verde; you can do this by hand but having a food processor helps. Chop the parsley, garlic, and anchovies just enough to break them down. Add to the bowl of a food processor with the oil and vinegar and just pulse until smooth. Set this aside as your condiment.
7. Heat the rolls in your still warm oven. Carve the pig thinly, keeping as much crispy skin intact as possible. Your guests can use the salsa as they like (the anchovies are throughly disguised in greeness and goodness).
8. Note to cook; fennel pollen is amazing. Ground fennel seed is an adequate but weak, in comparison, substitute. Glad to see it in the " food52 shop".

will, fistful of kosher salt, ground white pepper, garlic, shallots, fresh chives, fennel pollen, rosemary, olive oil, white wine, sandwich rolls, salsa, flat leaf parsley, salt, salt, extra virgin olive oil, clove garlic, red wine vinegar

Taken from food52.com/recipes/3862-porchetta-pierino (may not work)