German Kasseler: A Cured and Smoked Pork Loin

By
Jennifer McGavin
Jennifer McGavin
Jennifer McGavin learned to cook German food while living in Germany for 11 years and has worked in the food industry for many years.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/26/22
Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Ward, MS, RDN
Kasseler or smoked pork lion with tomato sauerkraut and roast potatoes

Luzia Ellert / Getty Images

Prep: 72 hrs
Cook: 3 hrs
Total: 75 hrs
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 pork loin

German smoked pork, "Kasseler", is a salt-cured pork loin or pork chop which is smoked with beechwood or alder. Germans use "Kasseler" as a tasty addition to kale and cabbage recipes or bake it like American ham. Most people buy "Kasseler" ready to cook, but it is difficult to find in the US. The smoke imparts much of the flavor in the meat — Germans most often use alder, while the U.S. cuisine calls for maple or hickory smoke.

This recipe, calls for a 48 hour, wet cure followed by a hot smoke of just a couple of hours, resulting in fully cooked meat.

Ingredients

  • 4 liters (1 gallon) water

  • 350 grams (1 1/4 cups) kosher salt

  • 225 grams (1 1/8 cups) sugar

  • 6 grams (1 teaspoon) pink curing salt no. 1

  • 1 handful fresh or dried sage leaves

  • 1 tablespoon juniper berries

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1 teaspoon coriander

  • Garlic cloves, optional

  • 1 (4- to 5-pound) pork loin, without back ribs

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Stir together the ingredients for the brine and heat to a simmer to dissolve all the salt and sugar. Refrigerate until completely cold.

  3. Prepare the loin by removing all but a thin layer of fat. We recommend a loin, not a rib roast (back ribs attached — common in commercial "Kasseler") for home processing.

  4. Place the loin in the brine and weight it down with a plate or other object to keep it submerged.

  5. Refrigerate for 48 hours.

  6. Remove the loin from the brine. Discard brine.

  7. Wash off the pork with cold water and pat dry. You may dry it in the refrigerator for up to a day (do not cover with any wrap).

  8. Prepare your smoker: Start your charcoal fire in the bottom of the smoker an hour before you want to smoke the meat.

  9. Soak 2 cups (or so) wood chips (preferably alder for this project) in some water.

  10. Place your smoking tray (or aluminum foil tray) on top of the charcoal and add 1/2 cup wet wood chips. Place the grill about a foot above that.

  11. Place the meat on the grill, cover and smoke 2 to 3 hours, until the internal temperature is 150 F or above. Add more wet chips as needed to keep the smoke up.

  12. You may choose to roast the brined meat instead, or if you are having trouble with the smoker just bring it inside and finish the cooking process in the oven. Heat the oven to 450 F and cook the meat for 10 minutes. Lower the temperature to 250 F and roast the meat for 2 to 3 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 150 F.

  13. Eat warm or cut and wrap. Refrigerate to 4 days or freeze for 2 to 3 months.

Curing Meat Warning

Curing meat requires specific expertise and failure to cure meat properly may result in sickness or death. If you have no experience in this area, we advise you to consult an expert to teach you proper techniques and applications.

Great Resources on Curing Meat

Since curing meat requires such a specific skill set, otherwise, it can lead to illness or worse, we highly recommend consulting with an expert to teach you proper techniques. We found that the following four publications are super helpful guides and go in-depth about just such processes, procedures, and techniques:

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
547 Calories
20g Fat
29g Carbs
60g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 547
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 6g 32%
Cholesterol 181mg 60%
Sodium 17372mg 755%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 10%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 28g
Protein 60g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 50mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 812mg 17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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