Neven Maguire's roast pork loin and stuffing recipe

This juicy pork joint with crunchy crackling is stuffed with and sage and onion stuffing and comes with sweet roast apples. Perfect with your favourite gravy or a rich red wine sauce drizzled over!

Ingredients

• 75g (3oz) butter
• 1 large red onion, peeled and crushed
• 25g (1oz) pine nuts
• 125g (4oz) white breadcrumbs (from a day-old loaf)
• 2tsp chopped sage
• 1.8kg (4lb) boneless pork loin, skin scored at 5mm (1/4in) intervals
• 1tbsp olive oil
• 3 eating apples
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Gravy or red wine sauce to serve

Method

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and gently fry the onion and garlic for 3 – 4 mins, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, then remove from the heat.
2. Meanwhile, heat a separate small frying pan over a medium heat and dry fry the pine nuts, tossing a little to ensure they brown evenly.
3. Stir the breadcrumbs into the onion mixture along with the sage and parsley. Tip in the toasted pine nuts and season with salt and pepper to taste, mixing to combine. Set aside to cool completely.
4. Preheat the oven to 200˚C/400˚F/gas 6.
5. Place th pork join skin-side down on a board and run a sharp knife between the loin and the streaky part to separate them. Continue to cut under the loin part for about 2.5cm (1in), releasing it a little from the fat on the bottom.
6. Press the cooled stuffing into a large sausage shape and insert it into the opened-up area of the pork joint, pressing it to fit snugly. Close the opening and roll up the joint, tying it with string at 2.5cm (1in) intervals to secure.
7. Place the joint, skin-side up, on a rack set in a large roasting tin and pat the skin dry with kitchen paper. Rub the olive oil into the skin with 1 tbsp of sea salt. Cover with foil and roast for 20 minutes.
8. Reduce the heat to 180˚C/350˚F/gas 4 and roast the joint for another 15 minutes. Then remove the foil and cook for 1 hr and 15 mins or until the pork is tender and the crackling is crisp and golden.
9. When the pork is cooked, transfer it to a warmed serving plate and allow the joint to rest, uncovered for about 20 mins. Remove from the roasting tin.
10. Quarter and core the apples, then cut into slices. Quickly toss the apple slices in the cooking juices and fat left in the roasting tin and return the tin to the oven. Roast the apples for 15 - 20 mins until tender and lightly caramelised, tossing once or twice to ensure even cooking.
11. Cut the string off the rested pork joint and carve the pork into thick slices. Arrange on warmed plates with the roasted apples and drizzle around the red wine sauce to serve.