Gotcha Pork Roast Recipe from Food Wars (Shokugeki no Soma)

Gotcha Pork Roast is one of the most memorable dishes in Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma. Even though it looks like a roast, the center is a savory mash of potato, onion, and mushrooms wrapped in bacon and finished with a glossy sauce made with red wine, sake, and soy sauce.

If you want a version that is practical to cook at home, this recipe keeps the spirit of Soma Yukihira's dish while using clear measurements and a method that helps the bacon hold its shape in the oven.

Contents 11

What is Gotcha Pork Roast?

In the series, Soma creates a fake roast to impress a guest who expected a rich meat dish. The trick is simple: a soft and flavorful potato filling shaped like a roast, covered with strips of bacon, baked until golden, and served with a sauce that adds sweetness, acidity, and umami.

You may also see it called Pseudo Roast Pork or Roast Pork, Just Kidding. The idea stays the same: it looks dramatic on the table, but the filling is affordable and easy to make.

Yield and total time

• Yield: 4 servings
• Prep time: about 35 minutes
• Cook time: 40 to 45 minutes
• Extra resting/chilling: 20 to 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the roast

• 6 medium Yukon Gold or other waxy potatoes
• 2 king oyster mushrooms, finely chopped
• 1/2 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 12 to 14 slices thick-cut bacon
• 2 to 4 small rosemary sprigs

For the sauce

• 150 ml red wine
• 75 ml sweet sake
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cold butter

To finish

• Watercress, parsley, or chives for garnish
• Butcher's twine
• Baking rack and tray

Ingredient notes that make a difference

• Use thick-cut bacon: thin slices tear too easily and leave gaps as they shrink.
• Choose waxy potatoes: they stay creamy without turning gluey.
• King oyster mushrooms work best: they give the filling a meatier bite, but other mushrooms can work in a pinch.
• Sweet sake helps the sauce: if yours is very dry, add a small pinch of sugar while reducing.

How to make the Food Wars bacon roast

1. Steam the potatoes. Cut the potatoes into large chunks and steam them for 15 to 20 minutes, until completely tender. Let them cool just enough to handle, then peel and mash them in a large bowl.
2. Cook the aromatics. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and mushrooms and cook until tender and lightly golden. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
3. Build the filling. Mix the mushroom mixture into the potatoes. Season with salt and black pepper, then knead just until the filling holds together. Let it cool for a few minutes.
4. Shape the roast. Form the filling into a compact log. Chill it for 20 minutes if it feels too soft. This step makes wrapping much easier.
5. Wrap with bacon. Lay the bacon strips slightly overlapping on a sheet of plastic wrap or directly on a board. Place the potato log in the center and wrap the bacon all around it, closing every visible gap.
6. Tie and add rosemary. Transfer the roast to a rack set over a baking tray. Tie it gently with butcher's twine and tuck rosemary under the twine so the aroma perfumes the bacon while it bakes.
7. Bake. Bake in a preheated 200°C / 400°F oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the bacon is browned and the outside looks tight and glossy. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
8. Reduce the sauce. While the roast rests, simmer the red wine, sake, and soy sauce in a skillet until reduced by about half. Lower the heat, whisk in 1 tablespoon of cold butter, and stir until the sauce looks shiny.
9. Serve. Remove the twine and rosemary, transfer the roast to a platter, spoon the sauce over the top, and finish with watercress, parsley, or chives.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Over-mashing the potatoes: the filling becomes pasty and loses structure.
• Skipping the chill time: a warm filling is harder to wrap and can split the bacon.
• Leaving gaps in the bacon: the filling will peek out as the roast bakes.
• Pouring a thin sauce: reduce it enough so it coats the spoon instead of running straight off the roast.

What to serve with it

Because the roast is rich, simple sides work best. A lightly dressed salad, steamed vegetables, or sauteed greens keep the plate balanced. If you are serving it for an anime night, slice it at the table so the potato and mushroom filling shows clearly.

More anime recipes to try

• Shokugeki no Souma Recipes - Apple Risotto
• Do you know Chigiri Pan? Learn how to make it - Recipe
• Recipe for Shiroi Koibito - Cookie

Serve it while the bacon is still hot and the sauce is glossy enough to coat each slice.