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Maple-Cured Canadian Bacon
This recipe was a lesson on the complexity of the loaded term "Canadian-bacon," where the maple-cured and smoked pork loin I made is just one of many possible interpretations.
About the author: Joshua Bousel brings you new, tasty condiment each Wednesday and a recipe for weekend grilling every Friday. He also writes about grilling and barbecue on his blog The Meatwave whenever he can be pulled away from his grill.
About This Recipe
| Yield: | makes one 4- to 5-pound loin, serving 12 to 18 people |
| Active time: | 15 minutes |
| Total time: | 3 to 5 days |
| Special equipment: | smoker |
| This recipe appears in: | Grilling: Maple-Cured Canadian Bacon |
Ingredients
- 1 gallon water, divided
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons pink salt (aka InstaCure, Prague Powder)
- 4 bay leaves
- 3 medium cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 boneless pork loin, trimmed of excess fat (about 4 to 5 pounds)
- 1 to 2 fist-size chunks of light smoking wood, such as apple or cherry
- Type of fire: Indirect
- Grill heat: Low
Procedures
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1
To make the cure, combine 1 quart of water, Kosher salt, maple syrup, brown sugar, pink salt, bay leaves, garlic, and peppercorns in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve salts and sugar. Boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat. Transfer to a large container and stir in remaining 3 quarts of water. Place in refrigerator until completely chilled. Fully submerge pork loin in cure and let sit in refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
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2
Remove pork from cure and place in large container. Add enough fresh water to fully submerge loin. Let sit for 30 minutes, then remove pork from water and pat dry with paper towels.
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3
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4
Let pork cool for 30 minutes. Slice and pan fry before before serving.
