Philadelphia-Style Roast Pork Sandwiches

Inspired by a South Philadelphia favorite, these roast pork sandwiches are a filling combination of garlicky roast pork, spinach, and Manchego cheese.

• Preparation Time: 35 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 40 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 794 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 cup water, or more as needed
• 1 (3 pound) pork shoulder roast
• 1 medium lemon, juiced
• 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1 cup shredded Manchego cheese
• 12 ounces fresh spinach
• 4 crusty rolls
• 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 0.5 cup chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Step 2

Make the pork: Remove the netting or strings from pork roast, keeping them intact to use again. Combine rosemary, parsley, garlic, 3 teaspoons oil, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon pepper in a bowl. Slice open pork roast and spread it with herb mixture. Roll up pork and secure it with the netting or string. Rub remaining 1 teaspoon oil all over pork; season with more salt and pepper.

Step 3

Place pork, fat-side up, in a roasting pan; pour in water.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven, basting occasionally and adding more water if necessary, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meat reads at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Reserve pan juices in the roasting pan.

Step 5

While the pork is resting, prepare fixings: Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes; cook and stir until garlic is fragrant but not brown, about 3 minutes. Pour in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add spinach, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach is wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 6

Cut and remove the string from the roast. Cut pork into thin slices. Return sliced pork to the juices in the roasting pan.

Step 7

Slice sandwich rolls. Sprinkle Manchego cheese over split rolls, add pork slices, and top with spinach.