Pancetta is so easy to make right at home – really! This is our traditional family way to make pancetta from scratch. As we know, pancetta makes a fantastic addition to any sauce. It’s also great on pizzas and let’s not forget how great it is when fried with eggs. Besides, homemade is always best.
00:00 Intro
01:03 Salting the pork
03:31 16 hours later, curing the pancetta
06:54 Hanging the pancetta
08:30 5 weeks later, squeeze test
10:09 First look
10:36 Taste test
12:26 Vacuum seal
12:45 Outro
Making Pancetta from scratch – old fashioned way
Prep Time: 10 minutes + 16 hr. rest
Cure Time: 5 – 6 weeks
Makes: 3 lbs.
Ingredients
• 1 cup (290 grams) (10 oz) fine table salt or fine sea salt
• 1 pork belly, 3 lbs. (1.36 kg)
• Spices: Paprika, hot chili flakes, black pepper – use 1, 2 or all 3 spices, to taste
Process
• Put pork belly in a container and completely cover it in salt, all around. Place in fridge for 16 hours (15 hour minimum – 16 hours ideal, no longer)
• Remove from fridge and wash off all the salt. Pat the belly dry with paper towel
• Sprinkle spices all around the pork belly.
• Poke a small hole in one of the corners, leaving about 2 inches (5 cm) from the edge
• Run a string through the hole, enough to hang the pork belly, and then hang it in your cantina (cold room – fruit cellar) or in your fridge. Just make sure it hangs freely with nothing touching it. (optimal temperature range is 34 deg. F to 40 Deg. F) (1 C to 4 C) (optimal humidity range is 65 – 75%)
• Let hang anywhere from 5 – 6 weeks – when cured, it should be firm once you squeeze it
• With a brush, you can now remove any excess spices by brushing them off
• You can now slice and enjoy fresh or use for cooking. A good practice is to cut the pancetta into smaller sizes and then vacuum seal them (i.e. with a food saver type vacuum) for later use. Once vacuum sealed, they will last up to 2 years, best if stored in the fridge.
NOTE: The skin on the
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20 Comments
Ooh that looks tasty! As it happens I was just in Lidl and they had whole joints of Prosciutto for £10.00. It was a different brand to the official "Prosciutto di Parma" and not as nice so I didn't get it. Is Pancetta the same as Prosciutto because I'd like to have a go at making that myself?
Awesome. Just subscribed. Looking forward to making this.
Yumm
Now with the weather being cold I can definitely do this.
Thank you 🙏
Yum I love trying new dishes ❤
Love your channel! Keep up your great work!
Love your stuff Ivo, thanks for making these vidoes. Cheers
Loved your recipe for fresh Italian sausage they turned out amazing thanks
So I assume historically, before the industrial revolution, Italians cured this in the winter?
@5:05 PAP-FREAKING-RIKA. Just a touch …
Quick question if you could answer it. I really wanna make this, but I don’t have that special room. Right now it’s the beginning of February in the northeast. I’m in New Jersey. It’s cold out. I have an attached garage that is unheated so it never freezes, but it’s pretty cool in there. Could I hang cure the future pancetta there? Or am I safer in the fridge. The one thing about the garage would be the temperature might fluctuate and not be consistent and I’m not sure if that matters, but it’s definitely not going to get hot in New Jersey right now in February. It’s a very cold year. Thanks
Looks good mate, will give it a try…..
My grest grandma & grandpa came to America from Calabria, Italy. I wish rhey would havetought us recipes like this and how to speak the italian language.
This video was perfect timing! Was planning on making pancetta this weekend but couldn't find a recipe I liked.
Just did your capicola recipe. You've been my go to for cured meat!
It is beautiful
Is that a Tupperware measuring cup? Ahh the memories of my mom's green ones.
Just wondering how can you control humidity levels in the fridge 🤷🏻
great presentation. Thanks for the details. Something overlooked in many videos. Explanation of why/how is key. Thanks!
can this be made from pork butt like i make buckboard bacon and pork belly cant seem to find where i live
Gloves would be better