Guanciale doesn’t have to be mistaken with pancetta or bacon; it comes from the jowl or the cheek of the pig and it has a more intense flavor than pancetta, as well as a smooth, rich flavor and delicate, buttery texture.
This amazing cured meat comes from Umbria and Lazio regions and that’s also why it is the main ingredient for some of the yummiest pastas – amatriciana, gricia and carbonara above all.
It is prepared by rubbing the meat with salt and curing it for one month. After this step, the seasoning process starts and it usually changes from region to region, based on traditions and curing habits, but in general producers use pepper, and spices such as thyme, fennel, coriander, and rosemary. After the Guanciale is air-dried and aged for at least 3 months, it’s ready to eat.
Guanciale is the new black
Asides from being the best date for your pasta, guanciale can also be used in other various ways, depending on how long it has been aged. Saltier, well-aged versions can be simply sliced thin and served as charcuterie like prosciutto or lardo. Because of its high fat to meat ratio, guanciale can also be cut into strips and added in a pan with vegetables (asparagus or pumpkin are my favorite combo) in order to have a melting tender texture and a mouth-watering experience.
Where to find Guanciale in NYC?
Even though guanciale is popping up in more places these days, it still can be trickier to find it in the main grocery stores in NYC. But no worries, I’ve done my homework and here is the list of places you can go and buy it!
Salumeria Biellese: Opened in 1925 by 2 gentlemen from Biella (located in Piemonte), Salumeria Biellese makes and sells an impressive selection of sausages and cured meats. They produce their guanciale using porks from Berkshire and they seasoned it with classic Italian herbs and spices.
Hudson & Charles: The famous West Village butcher, with a branch on the Upper West Side, gets guanciale from directly from Autumns Harvest Farm in the Finger Lakes area of NY State. The two farmers, Tim and Sarah, are devoted to raising healthy animals from birth, in a Grove of Walnut Trees, with the highest level of animal husbandry.
Murray’s Cheese: our favorite cheese shop, it’s also the place where you can find guanciale. They carry “La Quercia” brand, which is known for award-winning, American-made cuts of meat seasoned with sea salt, rosemary, and white and black pepper.