Pancetta

Rolled pancetta

Pancetta (Italian pronunciation: [panˈtʃetta]) is Italian bacon. It is pork belly meat that is salt cured, seasoned with such spices as nutmeg, fennel, peppercorns, dried ground hot peppers and garlic, then dried for at least three months. Associated with Italy, pancetta varies by region. It is often cubed, as lardon. It is also produced in Spain.

Styles

Pizza prepared with sliced rolled pancetta

Pancetta can be rolled or straight, typically with all the fat on one side. It is cubed for rendering or adding directly to dishes for flavor and richness, sliced thin for serving on its own, or blocked for employing as lardons.

Types

Rolled smoked pancetta

A number of different pancette have Protected Geographical Status within Europe. Pancetta from Piacenza and Calabria gained PDO status in 1996 and 1998, respectively. Since then, other pancette have gained Prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale protected status under the Italian Government.

See also

• Lardon
• Bacon
• Guanciale
• Prosciutto