Lonza (Air-dried pork loin)

Lonza is a classic Italian charcuterie product made from the pork loin, dry-cured and then air-dried. The combination of mild spices and long drying time results in a tender, aromatic product with a nutty flavor. Careful temperature and humidity control during maturation is essential.
Ingredients(for 1 kg)
Instructions
Preparation & Curing
8-12 daysTrim pork loin, leaving approx. 3 mm fat layer. Mix all spices and curing salt with white wine into a paste and rub all sides. Vacuum seal, store at 4-6 °C and turn daily.
Rinsing & Drying
12-24 hoursBriefly rinse meat under cold water. Pat thoroughly dry and leave uncovered in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours until the surface is dry and slightly tacky (pellicle formation).
Air maturation
21-28 daysBind lonza in a curing net and hang at 12-15 °C and 75-80 % humidity. Weigh weekly; ready when 30 % of starting weight is lost. If mold appears, wipe with salt water or white wine.
Pro Tip
Leaving a thin fat layer (approx. 3-4 mm) prevents excessive drying and protects the interior – keeping the lonza juicy and tender.
Glossary Terms
Save this recipe to your smoking journal?
With Curination you can scale recipes, track projects, document by voice and browse over 1,269 recipes.