Guanciale () is an
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
product prepared from
pork jowl or cheeks.
Its name is derived from , meaning 'cheek'. Its rendered fat gives flavour to and thickens the sauce of pasta dishes.
Production
Guanciale
is usually rubbed with just salt and ground black pepper by cooks in
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
, but some producers use other spices, herbs,
or
red pepper,
and sometimes garlic. It is cured for three weeks or until it loses approximately 30% of its original weight. Its flavour is stronger than that of other pork products, such as
pancetta
Pancetta () is a Salting (food)#Meat, salt-cured pork belly meat product in a category known as ''Salumi, salume''. In Italy, it is often used to add depth to soups and pasta. (in Italian).
Uses
For cooking, pancetta is often cut into cubes ( ...
, and its texture is more delicate. When cooked, the fat typically melts away.
In cuisine
Guanciale may be cut and eaten directly in small portions, but is often used as an ingredient in
pasta
Pasta (, ; ) is a type of food typically made from an Leavening agent, unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or Eggs as food, eggs, and formed into sheets or other shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking. Pasta was originally on ...
dishes
such as and sauces such as .
[ republication of ''La Buona Vera Cucina Italiana'', 1966.]
It is a specialty of
central Italy
Central Italy ( or ) is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), a first-level NUTS region with code ITI, and a European Parliament constituency. It has 11,704,312 inhabita ...
, particularly
Umbria
Umbria ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region of central Italy. It includes Lake Trasimeno and Cascata delle Marmore, Marmore Falls, and is crossed by the Tiber. It is the only landlocked region on the Italian Peninsula, Apennine Peninsula. The re ...
and
Lazio
Lazio ( , ; ) or Latium ( , ; from Latium, the original Latin name, ) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy, administrative regions of Italy. Situated in the Central Italy, central peninsular section of the country, it has 5,714,882 inhabitants an ...
.
Pancetta
Pancetta () is a Salting (food)#Meat, salt-cured pork belly meat product in a category known as ''Salumi, salume''. In Italy, it is often used to add depth to soups and pasta. (in Italian).
Uses
For cooking, pancetta is often cut into cubes ( ...
, a cured Italian bacon that is normally not smoked, is sometimes used as a substitute when guanciale is not available.
See also
*
Carbonara
Carbonara () is a pasta dish made with Adipose tissue, fatty Curing (food preservation), cured pork, Types of cheese#Hard cheese, hard cheese, Eggs as food, eggs, salt, and black pepper. It is typical of the Lazio region of Italy. The dish took ...
References
{{Bacon
Bacon dishes
Cuts of pork
Salumi