A Fabulous Roast Pork Sandwich with Rosemary Aioli

Wednesday, January 22, 2014 Add Comment Edit

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This simple sandwich is the one I promised to share with you yesterday. It has three major components and if any one of them is off, the sandwich will be a disappointment. If, however, you use fresh ciabatta, tender pork loin and the rosemary aioli I'm including in tonight's post, you are in for some memorable eating. The sandwich is based on one I found in Once Upon A Tart, coauthored by Frank Mentesana and Jerome Audureau, and while I have changed the recipe over time, I am indebted to them for this wonderful sandwich. I'll be serving it to my own guests on Super Bowl Sunday. While leftover pork can be used for this sandwich, I prefer to use the Pork Center Cut Loin Filet that is packaged by Hormel. These tiny roasts weigh about 1-1/2 pound and they'll cook in 40 to 45 minutes and produce tender slices that are a perfect size for sandwiches of this type. You'll want to liberally season the roasts with salt and coarse black pepper before roasting them. I use an Italian-style garlic salt to flavor mine. The ciabatta loaves I use for this are about 10-inches long and I've found that a loaf of this size will make five sandwiches. Tonight's recipe is for one 10-inch sandwich, and while the bread and meat are important, it's the aioli that takes this sandwich over the top. It is not hard to make and if you have a blender, upright or immersion, you'll have the world's most wonderful mayonnaise in a matter of minutes. I do hope you'll try this sandwich. It truly is a delight and I know you will enjoy it. Here is how it's made.

Roast Pork Sandwich with Rosemary Aioli on Ciabatta Bread...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by Once Upon a Tart by Frank Mentesana and Jerome Audureau

Ingredients:
1 10-inch ciabatta loaf, cut horizontally into 2 slices
1 pound well-seasoned, thinly sliced pork loin
1/2 cup rosemary aioli, or aioli to taste (recipe below)
Crisp lettuce
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
Spread cut side of each ciabatta slice with aioli. Cover one slice with lettuce. Top lettuce with pork and season with salt and pepper. Cover with remaining slice. Cut into 5 wedges and serve.

Rosemary Aioli...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
Mayonnaise
1 large egg +1 egg yolk
1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1-1/2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
Pinch of black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Aioli Additions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Kosher salt to taste

Directions:
1) To make mayonnaise: Place egg and egg yolk, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in jar of an electric blender. Blend for 30 seconds. Combine olive and vegetable oil in a 1-cup measure. With motor running, slowly add 1/4 cup oil in a slow stream, blending until mixture is smooth and begins to thicken. With blender running, add remainder of oil in a steady stream.
2) To make aioli: Place 1 cup mayonnaise in a bowl. Add garlic, rosemary, pepper and salt. Mix well. Store in refrigerator. Yield: 1-1/4 cups.