Steal this chef’s sizzling pork loin recipe

In this special weekly feature, “Today” food editor Phil Lempert brings you recipes “stolen” (with permission) from notable restaurants across the world. See how much money you can save — and fun you can have — by cooking these dishes at home!

This week: Sicilian Stuffed Loin of Pork from Grotta Azzurra, in Little Italy, New York City

The San Gennaro Festival, the crowded and joyful celebration in New York City’s Little Italy neighborhood, celebrates its 77th birthday this year. On hand once again for the annual 11-day celebration of the patron saint of Naples is Grotto Azzurra, a landmark restaurant that was once a hangout for Frank Sinatra and his fellow Rat Packers.

Founded by the Davino family in 1908 on the corner of Mulberry and Broome streets in the heart of Little Italy, Grotta Azzurra is named after the Blue Grotto on the island of Capri. Once a fixture of the area, the restaurant closed in 1997, then was completely renovated by descendants of the Davino family and reopened in September 2003.

special feature SOUPS: •  Ahoy! Steal this chef’s super chowder recipe •  A variety of winter soups to warm your soul •  More soup recipes to warm the soul •  A scrumptious mushroom soup recipe STEWS: •  Crockpot cooking for cold winter nights •  A hearty meal that won't bust your waistline ROASTS AND OTHER DISHES: •  A larger-than-life meatloaf, Tuscan-style •  Humble no more: In praise of the pot pie •  Steal this chef’s sizzling pork loin recipe •  Muy bueno! Steal this chef’s paella recipe COMPLETE MEALS: •  Warm up your winter with this modern cuisine •  Winter foods to keep you warm, Italian style •  Classic, hearty French food made easy •  Cook up a fall-into-winter extravaganza •  Kick up the flavor in your winter dinners OTHER RESOURCES: •  More winter warmers in our Recipe Search

Heading up the kitchen is executive chef Chris Pfeifer, who is incorporating several Grotta Azzurra classics, such as lobster fra diavolo and steak pizziola, into what he calls a “new seasonal Italian market menu.” One of the new dishes is Sicilian Stuffed Loin of Pork, the recipe for which Wednesday Food “stole” so you can cook it at home.

More about the chef: Little Italy has long been known as a red-sauce-for-tourists dining destination, but there's been a recent culinary explosion with the arrival of chefs such as Pfeifer. A graduate of the French Culinary Institute, Pfiefer is a veteran of top New York kitchens, including Le Chantilly, Spiaggia and Restaurant Daniel.

(PLEASE NOTE: Ingredient prices are estimates and based on national averages. Amounts listed are for one portion. Increase proportionately according to number of portions desired.)

Chris Pfeiffer

Sicilian Stuffed Loin of Pork
(Sicilian Stuffed Loin of Pork at Grotta Azzurra is $28. Cook at home cost: $4.55.)

1 center-cut of pork loin (about 8 ounces) ($2.25)
1 link sweet Italian sausage ($0.88)
1 teaspoon olive oil ($0.08)
2/3 cup chopped cooked spinach ($0.37)
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs ($0.04)
2 tablespoons raisins ($0.08)
2 tablespoons pine nuts ($0.41)
1/4 cup diced mozzarella ($0.32)
1 tablespoon balsamic vinaigrette ($0.12)

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Use a sharp knife to slice the pork loin in half lengthwise, without cutting all the way in half. Once the pork has been split, cover with plastic wrap and pound with a mallet to make a uniform thickness. Salt and pepper both sides of the loin. Begin stuffing preparation by removing sausage from its casing and crumbling into a sauté pan with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Sauté on high heat until sausage is browned. Drain the grease and set aside to cool. In a separate bowl, combine sausage with remaining ingredients, then salt and pepper to taste. Place a line of the stuffing down the length of the loin, then fold loin over to cover the line of stuffing. Tie the loin with kitchen string and cook for one hour in a 350 degree oven. Baste loin with drippings several times during cooking. Remove loin from the oven, and cut off the string. Allow to rest 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.

Grotta Azzurra
177 Mulberry Street
New York, NY 10013
www.grottaazzurrany.com

Want to find out how you can make your favorite restaurant dish at home? Just e-mail Phil at Phil.Lempert@nbc.com (or use the mail box below) with the name of the restaurant, city and state, and the dish you would like to have re-created. Want to know more about Phil and food? Visit his website at www.supermarketguru.com.

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