This is a very simple recipe for salumi (not salami) that produces a very tasty result. If wild boar cannot be obtained, regular pork can be used.

Ingredients:

One tenderloin (Mine was 660 grams)
Kosher Salt (6% of the weight of the meat (40 grams in this case))
Juniper Berries (20 grams + 10 grams)
Bay Leaves (2 grams + 2 grams)
Pepercorns, toasted and cracked (20 grams)

To cure: Wash the tenderloin in clear water, pat dry. Chop 20 grams juniper berries (I used fresh harvested), crush 2 grams bay leaves, and add those, along with the peppercorns with the salt. Rub into the tenderloin. Place the salt mixture, along with the tenderloin into a ziplock bag. Refrigerate 24-48 hours (the longer you let it cure, the saltier the end product will be--I use 36 hours).

To dry: Rinse the salt mixture off, crush the remaining bay leaves, chop the remaining juniper berries. Wrap the tenderloin along with the new bay leaves and juniper berries in cheesecloth. Weigh and record. Hang in a cool place (60-65F/16-18C -- 50-70% humidity) for at least a week, until 30% of the mass of the tenderloin evaporates.

Store in the refrigerator.

Slice very thinly, to the point of translucency. Serve with cheese and crackers, with various other cured meats; on its own; or add to various recipes.

The end product has a slightly spicy flavor, with undertones of gin. It is similar to prosciutto.



Note: This is technically a raw product. The curing process retards bacterial growth, and people have been eating meat prepared in such a manner for at least several hundred years. However, because this is a pork product that has not been heated, there is a very slight risk of trichinosis--especially with wild game. If this is a concern for you, either use this as an addition to recipes that are cooked, or do not make this.