Published January 1, 2007.
To get our herb crust to deliver maximum herb flavor in our pork roast recipe, we cut a single horizontal pocket across the middle of the roast that could hold a good quantity of herb paste. With our internal flavor guaranteed for our pork roast recipe, we went to work on the crust, using the same herb paste we had used to fill the pocket; to keep it attached to the outside of the roast, we found we needed to score a crosshatch pattern into the fat cap, giving the paste something to grip.
If only "enhanced" pork is available (the label will state that the pork was injected with a water-salt solution), do not brine the roast. Instead, simply season the stuffed and tied roast with salt before browning. Note that you should not trim the pork of its layer of fat. Do not substitute dried thyme for fresh or the herb crust will be dry and dusty tasting. The roasting time will vary widely depending on the thickness of the meat. The roast can be brined, stuffed, and tied a day ahead, but don't prepare the bread crumb topping until you are ready to cook.
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