Name: Rolled Pig's Spleen
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 spleen; Bacon (or pancetta); Sage leaves; Salt and pepper (to taste); Chicken stock (or pork stock)

Rolled spleen with bacon and sage. — Rolled spleen is a simple preparation of spleen, bacon and sage. Photo: Rosminah Brown

I first encountered this dish at St. John in London, where chef and owner Fergus Henderson popularized the phrase “snout-to-tail philosophy” for utilizing all parts of the whole pig. As foreign as the spleen may look, it is often used in liver pâtés and has a similar liver taste. But the spleen deserves attention in its own right. Admittedly, when I ordered the spleen at St. John, I did not like it. But when researching recipes ideas for Buster’s spleen, Henderson’s rolled spleen was the simplest and easiest to do, with ingredients I already had on hand. And I was surprised to find Buster’s rolled spleen was delightfully delicious. I encourage you to keep an open mind about the often ignored spleen—the result may surprise you as it did me.

Ingredients

1 spleen
Bacon, or pancetta
Sage leaves
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chicken stock, or pork stock

Instructions

Lay the spleen out on your work surface and season with salt and pepper. Place 1 layer of bacon on top of the spleen, then top the bacon with several fresh sage leaves. Carefully roll up the spleen, with the bacon and sage on the inside, making the roll tight. Hold it in place with long toothpicks.
Set the rolled spleen in an ovenproof dish and cover with the stock.
Braise in a 350° oven for 60 minutes, then remove from the stock and let cool. To serve, slice the rolled spleen crosswise, each piece being a coil of spleen, bacon and sage. It is best eaten cool or at room temperate, like pâté, alongside thin slices of onion and cornichons.