Ping: NoVa Bill - Kassler Rippchen

Retired RailRoader

NoVa Bill after much searching I came across this recipe for Kassler Rippchen. After speaking to my wife and my Mother-In-Law (Bavarian descent) they seem to think that this is very close to what you and I have been looking for. I will be trying this in the near future and I will keep you posted.

German Smoked Pork, "Kasseler", is a salt-cured pork loin or pork chop which is smoked with beech wood or alder. Germans use "Kasseler" as a tasty addition to kale and cabbage recipes, or bake it like American ham. Most people buy "Kasseler" ready to cook, but it is difficult to find in the US. The smoke imparts much of the flavor in the meat - Germans most often use alder, while the US cuisine calls for maple or hickory smoke.

This recipe, calls for a 48 hour, wet cure followed by a hot smoke of just a couple of hours, resulting in fully cooked meat.
Prep Time: 72 hours, 0 minute
Cook Time: 3 hours, 0 minute
Ingredients:

* ***Brine***
* 4 liters (1 gallon) water
* 350 grams kosher salt
* 225 grams sugar
* 42 grams pink salt1
* Fresh or dried sage leaves
* 1 tsp. dried thyme
* 1 T. juniper berries
* 1 tsp. coriander
* Garlic cloves (optional)
* ***Meat***
* 1 pork loin without back ribs, 4 - 5 pounds
* ***Equipment***
* Alder or beech wood chips
* Smoker or grill
* Charcoal
* Meat thermometer

Preparation:

Stir together the ingredients for the brine and heat to a simmer to dissolve all the salt and sugar. Refrigerate until completely cold.

Prepare the loin by removing all but a thin layer of fat. I recommend a loin, not a rib roast (back ribs attached - common in commercial "Kasseler") for home processing.

Place the loin in the brine and weight it down with a plate or other object to keep it submerged.

Refrigerate for 48 hours.

Remove the loin from the brine. Discard brine.
Wash off the pork with cold water and pat dry. You may dry it in the refrigerator for up to a day (do not cover with any wrap).

Prepare your smoker: Start your charcoal fire in the bottom of the smoker an hour before you want to smoke the meat.

Soak 2 cups (or so) of wood chips2 (preferably alder for this project) in some water.

Place your smoking tray (or aluminum foil tray) on top of the charcoal and add 1/2 cup wet wood chips. Place the grill about a foot above that.

Place the meat on the grill, cover and smoke 2 - 3 hours, until the internal temperature is 150°F or above. Add more wet chips as needed to keep the smoke up.

You may choose to roast the brined meat instead, or if you are having trouble with the smoker just bring it inside and finish the cooking process in the oven. Heat the oven to 450°F and cook the meat for 10 minutes. Lower the temperature to 250°F and roast the meat for 2 - 3 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 150°F.

Eat warm or cut and wrap. Refrigerate to 4 days or freeze for 2-3 months.

Mr. & Mrs Potatohead

Just to chime in with another vote…
My brother, who lived in Germany for sixteen years, and his bride from Holland both say that this recipe is pretty much spot on.
The chop is traditionally served up with red cabbage or kraut, spaetzle (sp?) and a rich brown sauce.

cookn biker

I was checking out a German cookbook yesterday at B&N and it was very similar to that recipe.