Classic Pork Roulade (Best Pork Loin Recipe!) (2024)

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This Pork Roulade is a delicious and impressive recipe that you should try for your next family dinner, special occasion, dinner party, or even for your Christmas dinner! It looks incredible and tastes even better, yet it’s super simple and easy to make!

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This recipe is a true show topper that’s perfect for Sunday dinners with the family or the holidays too! This is a fairly special and traditional recipe that has been passed down through generations and I want to share it with you today.

If you love pork, or meat in general, and want a unique, special, crowd-pleasing recipe that’s easy to make but is perfect for special occasions too, then this is the perfect one for you. You’re going to fall in love with it, I’m sure of it!

Want to learn how to make this Pork Roulade? Then keep on reading!

Table of Contents
  • What is a Pork Roulade?
  • What Makes This Pork Roulade Recipe Special?
  • What You Need to Make Pork Roulade at Home
  • How to Make Pork Roulade
  • How to Serve Pork Roulade
  • Recipe Variation Ideas for Pork Roulade
  • How to Store Leftover Pork Roulade
  • Similar Recipes You'll Love
  • Recipe Card
  • Classic Pork Roulade (Best Pork Loin Recipe!)
  • Comments

What is a Pork Roulade?

To understand what pork roulade is, let’s first understand what roulade is! Roulade comes from the French word rouler, which literally means ‘to roll’.

But most of the time, the first thing that comes to our mind when we think of roulade as a dessert! But roulades don’t have to always be sweet, like my Chocolate Roulade recipe, but they can also be savory, like this delicious Pork Roulade.

And so, a Pork Roulade is a delicious rolled and roasted pork loin that’s been seasoned to perfection. Sometimes roulade can also include stuffing, but it’s not absolutely necessary!

This recipe is the perfect base to add any stuffing you like though, and I’ve included some fun ideas in the recipe variations section below!

What Makes This Pork Roulade Recipe Special?

This is a classic and traditional recipe that has been passed down through generations and I’m really excited to share it with you today.

It features delicious classic flavors that you’re going to absolutely love. It’s by far one of the best recipes to try for Christmas dinner, or any other special occasion or holiday. It’s also perfect for a family Sunday dinner.

Special dishes like these sometimes intimidate people. And that is partly due to the steps involved in making it. And while this roulette recipe may seem like a hassle to make, it's really not as complicated as it may look and is absolutely worth it.

The flavors are exceptional, and you’ll notice your family gobble it down quickly because it’s that good!

Traditionally, it is most commonly served as a side dish, even if there is already a main meat dish served. There's something satisfying in having another meaty flavor boost on your holiday dinner plate.

And because it is usually made for major holiday meals or life events, it earned itself a reputation of being sort of a ‘special occasion’ treat.

So try this recipe today and, trust me, you won’t be disappointed at how beautiful it is!

What You Need to Make Pork Roulade at Home

Making this delicious pork roast meal involves using incredibly simple, pantry-staple ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need to make it at home:

  • Pork: First of all, we’ll need some delicious pork! I’ve used pork loin here which is a top boneless roast piece that’s absolutely perfect for this recipe. You may also use pork tenderloin here instead.
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  • Vegeta: You’ll also need some Vegeta, which is a delicious seasoning mix that is made of dehydrated vegetables, including carrots, onions, parsnips, potatoes, and celery. This adds a beautiful flavor dimension to the dish.
  • Mrs. Dash seasoning: We’ll also be using some Mrs. Dash Seasoning mix which includes delicious spices and herbs such as celery seed, rosemary, mustard, cumin, lemon juice powder, etc. It truly elevates the flavor of this roulade!
  • Garlic powder: To make the flavors even better, we’ll also be adding some garlic powder to this recipe.
  • Dried parsley: You’ll also need some dried parsley which really complements all the other flavors in this dish.
  • Seasonings: We’ll also be adding some kosher salt and black pepper to the recipe to season it perfectly according to taste.
  • Butcher’s twine: To tie our rolled pork, we’ll be using pieces of kitchen twine (aka butcher’s twine) in this recipe.
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How to Make Pork Roulade

Making this delicious recipe is super easy, which makes it one of the best picks for Christmas dinners where you already have so many things to prep and cook! Here’s how to make this incredibly simple and easy recipe:

How to Prep Pork Roulade

Start by measuring out all dry ingredients: Vegeta, Mrs. Dash seasoning, garlic powder, dry parsley, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir together and set aside until ready for use.

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Next, butterfly the pork by taking each piece of pork loin and first cutting it in half to check 4 chunks. Next, slice each chunk into two sheets or strips that are about ¼ inch thick using a sharp knife. You’ll end up with 8 thin sheets of meat.

Then place all the meat into a bowl and season them with the prepared seasoning mix. Allow it to marinate for at least 4 hours.

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Time to roll them up! Work with one sheet at a time. Lay out a sheet on a cutting board or clean the working surface. Using a meat mallet beat one side of the sheet to make it somewhat flatter. You can also cover it with plastic wrap first.

Then roll it up tightly and tie both ends with butcher twine. Repeat this process with the remaining meat.

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How to Bake Pork Roulade

Transfer all meat rolls onto a roasting pan or baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Make sure to place them seam-side down.

Bake in a preheated oven at 400 F (204 C) for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until golden in color.

Remove from the oven and cool the rolls to room temperature before transferring them into an airtight container.

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Store rolls unsliced in the refrigerator in the container covered with a lid until needed. Slice right before serving. Your delicious Pork Roulade is ready to be served!

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How to Serve Pork Roulade

Slices of these very tasty rolls can also make incredible and attractive canapes for parties. Leftovers make fantastic snacks, simply placed on top ofHomemade French Breadafterward.

They are also perfect to serve with dishes such asRich N’ Creamy Potato CasseroleandCabbage Carrots and Peppers Salad. I hope you love it as much as we do!

It's a staple in every Slavic household. It might also surprise you, but this particular meat roll-up is best served cold, which also distinguishes it from the main hot meat dish.

In another traditional touch, we usually serve these meat rolls with a dollop of Ukrainian spicy red horseradish beet sauce.

Recipe Variation Ideas for Pork Roulade

This delicious Pork Roulade recipe is a true classic and will work as a side dish alongside any meat recipe you serve. But you can also make it into a main dish by adding some stuffing to it. Here are some great ideas to try:

Vegetables: You can stuff them with your favorite vegetables! Mushrooms work beautifully in this recipe and the flavors are absolutely perfect. You can also try adding some spinach. Sauté your favorite veggies in a large skillet on medium-high heat before adding them as a stuffing.

Meat: How about stuffing your pork roulade with some more meat? Try adding some bacon or sausage to your tasty roulade.

Cheese: If you’re a cheese lover, you can also add your favorite cheese to the stuffing!

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How to Store Leftover Pork Roulade

Storing this delicious pork roulade is super simple! All you need to do is place it in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. You can store it this way for up to 3 days.

What’s best is that you can also freeze it for up to 3 months by placing it in a freezer-safe container and then popping it in the freezer! Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before having it.

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Check out all Christmas recipes HERE.

Recipe Card

Classic Pork Roulade (Best Pork Loin Recipe!)

Valya's Taste of Home

This Pork Roulade is a classic and traditional recipe passed down through generations and is the best pork loin dish for Christmas, so try it today!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Course Meat

Cuisine Italian

Servings 8 roulettes

Equipment

  • Butchers twine

Ingredients

Pork Meat Roulette Ingredients

  • 5 lbs. – pork lion top boneless roast
  • 1 tbsp. - Mrs. Dash seasoning
  • 1 tbsp. – Vegetta
  • 1 tsp. – garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. – dry parsley
  • 1 tbsp. – sea salt
  • 1 tsp. – freshly ground black pepper
  • Butchers twine

Read More

Instructions

How to Prep Pork Roulade

  • Start by measuring out all dry ingredients: Vegeta, Mrs. Dash seasoning, garlic powder, dry parsley, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir together and set aside until ready for use.

  • Next, butterfly the pork by taking each piece of pork loin and first cutting it in half to check 4 chunks. Next, slice each chunk into two sheets or strips that are about ¼ inch thick using a sharp knife. You’ll end up with 8 thin sheets of meat.

  • Then place all the meat into a bowl and season them with the prepared seasoning mix. Allow it to marinate for at least 4 hours.

  • Time to roll them up! Work with one sheet at a time. Lay out a sheet on a cutting board or clean the working surface. Using a meat mallet beat one side of the sheet to make it somewhat flatter. You can also cover it with plastic wrap first.

  • Then roll it up tightly and tie both ends with butcher twine. Repeat this process with the remaining meat.

How to Bake Pork Roulade

  • Transfer all meat rolls onto a roasting pan or baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Make sure to place them seam-side down.

  • Bake in a preheated oven at 400 F (204 C) for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until golden in color.

  • Remove from the oven and cool the rolls to room temperature before transferring them into an airtight container.

  • Store rolls unsliced in the refrigerator in the container covered with a lid until needed. Slice right before serving. Your delicious Pork Roulade is ready to be served!

Tried this recipe?Share your photo on Instagram @valyastasteofhome or tag #valyastasteofhome!

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This is an updated recipe.The picture (below) is fromDecember 29, 2014,when the recipe was originally posted.

Classic Pork Roulade (Best Pork Loin Recipe!) (12)
Classic Pork Roulade (Best Pork Loin Recipe!) (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to tender pork loin? ›

Once the pork loin roast reaches 145°F on an instant-read thermometer, remove it from the oven, and let it rest on a cutting board for 20 minutes. This gives the meat time to reabsorb all its juices. You can also brine the pork before you cook it, which ensures the meat stays tender, juicy, and well-seasoned.

What tenderizes pork the best? ›

Using a brine or a marinade will make your life so much easier. If you're not confident in your cooking skills, there is one foolproof way to guarantee your pork ends up on the tender side, even if you cook it too long: Soak it in a brine or a marinade.

Do you bake a pork loin fat side up or down? ›

Season roast with pepper, sea salt, steak seasoning, onion powder, and garlic powder on all sides. Place roast, fat-side up, into a shallow roasting pan.

Is it better to cook pork loin fast or slow? ›

Pork loin is a very lean cut of meat so it should be cooked LOW and slow. Please do NOT cook your pork loin on high in the crock pot. Cook on LOW for 2-4 hours. In general, smaller pork loins (3 pounds) will take closer to 2 hours and larger pork loins (5 pounds) will take closer to 4 hours).

Does pork loin get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Quite the opposite, actually! Pork tenderloin should be cooked quickly and then left to rest to ensure it stays tender. If you cook it too long, it will become tough and chewy.

Should I slice pork loin before cooking? ›

It is generally not recommended to cut them any thinner than three-quarters of an inch thick to make sure they stay juicy when cooking. Pork loin chops are easy to cook as is or they can also be cut up into smaller pieces (cubes or strips) for dishes like stir fry or hotdishes.

How to cut a pork loin so you can stuff it? ›

Directions
  1. Place pork loin lengthwise on cutting board. ...
  2. Holding the knife parallel to the cutting board, slice and unroll the pork until it's a 1-inch-thick rectangle. ...
  3. After seasoning both sides of the pork loin, place cut side up and spoon filling on top within 1/2-inch of the edges.

What is the most tender cut of pork for roasting? ›

Loin: The area between the shoulder and back legs is the leanest, most tender part of the animal. Rib and loin chops are cut from this area, as are pork loin roasts and tenderloin roasts.

How do Chinese make pork so tender? ›

How do you tenderise pork for stir fry? Velveting is a Chinese technique that helps keep meat tender during stir frying. Adding cornstarch and bicarb to your meat during the marinating process helps to coat your meat, giving it a velvety feel that makes the meat feel extra soft.

What does baking soda do to pork? ›

Baking soda causes a chemical reaction with the meat, changing the texture to make it less tough, and it works quickly without having to use a marinade.

How to make pork super tender? ›

Sprinkle meat tenderizer over the surface of the pork while it's damp. Pour a tiny bit of water over the pork's surface—just enough to make it damp. Then, lightly coat the meat with tenderizer (about 1 tsp/small spoonful of powder for every 1 lb (0.45 kg) of pork is a good rule of thumb).

Should pork loin be covered when cooking? ›

Tenting can be suitable for some cuts of meat, but if you want a crunchy crust on your roast, then it's best to leave it uncovered. If you notice that the roasted pork is browning too much, you can lightly cover it with aluminum foil. However, do not cover it for the last 5-10 minutes in the oven.

What is the difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin? ›

While pork loin offers a larger size, robust flavor, and versatility in cooking methods, pork tenderloin boasts tenderness, lean meat, and a milder taste. By choosing the appropriate cut and applying suitable cooking techniques, you can create mouthwatering dishes that highlight the best qualities of each cut.

Do you put pork fat side up or down in oven? ›

Step 4: Place your pork, fat side up, in your prepared pan. Step 5: Add oiled/seasoned vegetables around your pork loin to make it a complete meal. Use vegetables that require longer cook times like potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, and carrots.

How to make pork extremely tender? ›

How to Make Tender Pork Chops
  1. Opt for Thick-Cut Bone-In Pork Chops. Thin-cut pork chops won't sear properly in the time it takes to cook them through. ...
  2. Skip the Brine, but Season Liberally. ...
  3. Let the Pork Chops Rest. ...
  4. Sear Pork Chops Over Medium-High Heat. ...
  5. Baste the Pork Chops. ...
  6. Let the Pork Chops Rest, Again. ...
  7. Serve.
Feb 14, 2018

How do you keep pork loin from getting tough? ›

Preparing the pork loin
  1. Brine the pork to maintain moisture by soaking it in a mixture of salt and water, baking soda, vinegar or even milk. ...
  2. For the most succulent outcome, marinate or apply your dry rub well ahead of cooking, giving the meat plenty of time to absorb the seasonings.
Oct 3, 2023

What temp is pork loin most tender? ›

Cooking Temperature of Pork

The safe internal pork cooking temperature for fresh cuts is 145° F. To check doneness properly, use a digital cooking thermometer. Fresh cut muscle meats such as pork chops, pork roasts, pork loin, and tenderloin should measure 145° F, ensuring the maximum amount of flavor.

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