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Stuffed suckling pig

Erken's stuffed suckling pig (1914): the pig is cleaned, rubbed inside with salt and pepper, and stuffed with rusk fried in butter mixed with cooked apples, prunes, and beaten egg. The belly is sewn shut, the pig is placed on its knees in a roasting pan with boiling bouillon and roasted about 2 hours at even heat while brushed with oil every 10 minutes. Presented on a bed of lettuce with an apple or lemon in the mouth, frilled paper around the ears, and served with apples, chestnuts, and a rich pan-juice sauce.

Source: Henriette Schønberg Erken, Stor kokebok, 1914-utg. s. 246 (falt i det fri)

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About the dish

The stuffed suckling pig was the highlight of party food, complete with presentation on a bed of lettuce, an apple or lemon in the mouth, and frilled paper around the ears. The stuffing of rusk, apples, and prunes is typical of Norwegian festive food around 1900.

How to make it

  1. 1

    Cleaning

    Clean the pig carefully in the belly and mouth, brush the teeth well, rinse and dry it. Rub it inside with salt mixed with pepper.

  2. 2

    Stuffing

    Peel and cut the apples and cook them 10 minutes in the water with the sugar. Wash the prunes and remove the pits.

  3. 3

    The bread

    Lightly fry the rusk or white bread in half the butter, pour it into a bowl, mix well with the fruit, and stir in the beaten eggs.

  4. 4

    Stuff and sew

    Stuff the pig with the mixture so it keeps its shape, and sew the belly shut.

  5. 5

    In the pan

    Bend the knees at the first joint and place the pig on its knees in a roasting pan greased with the rest of the butter. Put the pan in a hot oven (about 180 °C (355 °F)) and pour on the boiling bouillon.

  6. 6

    Roasting

    Roast at even heat until the pig is tender, about 2 hours. Rub it every 10 minutes with a linen cloth dipped in cooking oil; that makes the crackling crisp and golden and keeps it from bursting.

  7. 7

    The last half hour

    Open the oven vents the last half hour so the steam can escape.

  8. 8

    Presentation

    Place a layer of lettuce on a large platter. Carve the pig and reassemble it as whole on the lettuce. Put an apple or a lemon in the mouth and wrap frilled paper strips around the ears, or stick a skewer behind each ear. Serve apples and chestnuts alongside, along with a rich pan-juice sauce.

Changes from the original

Measurements converted to modern units; "rusk or white bread" given in dl as in the original. Bouillon cubes have been kept as an alternative. The oven temperature has been specified (about 180 °C (355 °F)).

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Frequently asked questions

How long should the suckling pig be roasted, and how many does it feed?
The recipe has a total time of about 3.5 hours (210 minutes) and is meant for 10 servings.
What does the stuffing consist of?
100 g prunes, 8 apples cooked 10 minutes in 3 dl water with 2 tablespoons sugar, 6 dl rusk or white bread fried in 100 g butter, plus 2–3 beaten eggs. The mixture is stuffed into the pig, which is then sewn shut.
Must the pig be prepared in any special way before roasting?
Yes. It should be slaughtered a couple of days in advance. The belly and mouth are cleaned carefully, the teeth brushed, the pig rinsed and dried, and rubbed inside with 3 teaspoons salt mixed with 1 teaspoon pepper.
Where does the recipe come from?
From Henriette Schønberg Erken's "Stor kokebok" from 1914, page 246. For the liquid, 1 liter of bouillon is used, or 1 liter of water with 3 bouillon cubes.

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