Ricette di Spannocchia

Spannocchia Food

Featured recipe: Arista all’ arancia | Orange pork loin

This is a favorite winter/early spring staple—before the first crops of the season are ready—because it can easily be made with any hardy vegetables that you froze after harvesting in the fall. We use fresh broccoli here but also often enjoy this creamy, savory side dish with greens like spinach or kale.

Ingredients:

1 kg (2.2 lb) pork loin roast

2 red onions

4 oranges

4 bay leaves

1/2 cup white wine

4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

salt

pepper

8 servings

Instructions:

In a deep braising dish add the olive oil and cook over low heat for several minutes, then add the pork loin. Add salt and pepper and cook until the meat is golden brown on all sides, turning a few times. Then add the wine and cook until it evaporates.

Meanwhile, cut the onions into 8 slices each. Cut 2 oranges (leaving the rind on) into 8 slices each. Juice the other 2 oranges and filter the juice to remove pulp and seeds. Add the orange slices, orange juice, and onion slices to the meat. Then, add bay leaves and more pepper. Allow it to cook over low heat, covered, for an hour and a half. While cooking, if the meat becomes too dry, you can add water or broth.

When it is cooked, set aside for at least 10 minutes before slicing into thin strips and arranging on a large serving dish. Then place the orange and onion slices around the meat slices, drizzling the pan juices onto the meat.

Tying pork loin with twine.
Pork loin, orange slices and red onions in a braising dish on the stove.
Finished dish of orange pork loin.

Orange pork loin photos by Valery Rizzo

RECIPE BOOK: Archived recipes

Spannocchia garden
March 2022: SFORMATO DI BROCCOLI | BROCCOLI FLAN
This is a favorite winter/early spring staple—before the first crops of the season are ready—because it can easily be made with any hardy vegetables that you froze after harvesting in the fall. We use fresh broccoli here but also often enjoy this creamy, savory side dish with greens like spinach or kale.
Aglione garlic with a wine cork for scale
WINTER 2021-22: PICI ALL' AGLIONE | PICI PASTA WITH GARLIC SAUCE
Aglione (Elephant Garlic) are not simply “big” garlic cloves, but a typical Tuscan variety of the garlic family. In our winter recipe, we use aglione to make Pici All'Aglione, but you could substitute any store-bought pasta and even common garlic, if you can't find this special variety.
A large pumpkin on the vine
NOV 2021: CREMA DI ZUCCA AI FUNGHI | CREAMY PUMPKIN SOUP WITH MUSHROOMS
As a blended American-Italian community, Spannocchia's annual celebration of Thanksgiving is a similarly unique blend of American & Italian food traditions—a truly special and memorable event! Bring a taste of Spannocchia to your holiday table with this delicious fall soup.
Slices of schiacciata con uva on a silver tray
October 2021: Schiacciata con Uva | Focaccia with Grapes

If you've ever been at Spannocchia during the annual vendemmia (grape harvest), you know that the hard work culminates with a celebration—one which always includes sweet focaccia baked with freshly-picked grapes. Now, just get some wine grapes, and you can enjoy this traditional treat at home.

Ingredients for Eggplant Parmesan
September 2021: Parmigiana di Melanzane | Eggplant Parmesan

As the weather starts to turn cooler (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), enjoy this classic Italian recipe that perfectly straddles summer (with fresh garden eggplant) and fall (with a heartier preparation—fried and cheesy goodness!).

Baked Tomatoes
August 2021: Pomodori Gratinati | Baked Tomatoes

There is never a shortage of dishes you can prepare using tomatoes—not to mention canning and sauce-making for later enjoyment—but we’re particularly fond of this Mediterranean-inspired recipe that calls for baking them with a salty, briny topping.

Plum Cake
July 2021: Dolce Con Le Prugne | Plum Cake

As we harvest gorgeous plums from our orchard during the summer, we love making this fruit dessert. If you're not lucky enough to have plums in your backyard, grab some stone fruit at your local farm stand or market.

Vegetable Roll
June 2021: Rotolo di Verdure | Vegetable Roll

Mix cheese, garlic, and pine nuts with whatever fresh greens you have on hand, then roll it into a delicious ricotta-based dough and bake for a fairly simple but impressive appetizer or side dish.

Fava Bean Pesto
May 2021: Pesto di Fave | Fava Bean Pesto

Savor this favorite spring crop in a fresh, delicious pesto. Pair it with a crisp glass of Italian white wine and it might almost be like you're sitting under the pergola outside the villa dining room.

Salame Dolce ("Sweet Salame")
April 2021: salame dolce

Check out this favorite Spannocchia dessert made with chocolate and biscuit cookies, then rolled and sliced to look like "sweet salami."