Have you ever tried panchetta? Are you a fan of pork dishes? There's just something about pork - a mix of sweet and salty - that makes for a completely enjoyable dining experience.
If you've never tried panchetta, well, you are missing out some of the best sandwiches and pasta dishes ever! If you don't know what panchetta is, it is pork that has been cured and dried and is commonly served in Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Spain.
They are usually served in paper thin slices to be used in sandwiches or as a side dish, or chopped up and added to pasta sauces.
In Spain many people eat panchetta for breakfast, with fried eggs and chorizos.
Here's a little background information on this succulent meat: History of pancetta Panchetta is known to have originated in Italy.
There are many different types, and depending on what provincial area of Italy you're in, you find different ingredients used to flavor the pork.
All of them are very aromatic and tasty, but the original flavor is said to have come from Corsica.
Today it has become widely popular around the world and can now be commonly found in any supermarket.
How to make it Making this salty delectable meat is easy! The pork is salt cured, and then salted and spiced.
But the real secret is in the spices.
As mentioned before, depending on what style you are making, you can use a range of spices from nutmeg, pepper, fennel, dried ground hot peppers, and garlic.
The meat is then dried for about three months.
Traditionally you typically wouldn't smoke it.
The meat usually is rolled, or flat with the fat on one side.
The flat kind is usually found with home-made panchetta in Italy or Spain.
Different uses If you go to an Italian restaurant you are likely to see panchetta served in a panini sandwich or as a side dish.
However, there are many other ways you can use panchetta.
Because of its strange mix of salty, sweet, and tart flavors, it has the ability to add new life to almost any dish! Panchetta can be used to add a salty kick to salads, or as a light meat in soups.
It's a popular addition to the traditional minestrone soup.
It's also used as an interesting addition to pasta sauces.
It goes stunningly well in tomato based sauces, and even in lasagna.
Another unusual use of the cured meat is an ingredient in baked ziti with a cream based sauce.
Or, you can do it Spanish style and have your bacon and eggs in the morning except with panchetta instead of bacon! So, if you are fan of pork or bacon products, then you will definitely be a fan of panchetta! It is a versatile meat that can be sliced up straight out of the fridge for sandwiches, or it can be added to your favorite sauces.
You can easily find it in any local supermarket or deli.
Go out and try some panchetta today!