Pancetta Tesa, 8 oz

Smoking Goose Pancetta Tesa (8 oz)

The flavor base Italian cooks start with.

Pancetta is pork belly cured with salt and spices, Italian style. Smoking Goose cures theirs with garlic, black pepper, juniper, nutmeg, bay leaf, and a splash of red wine, then hangs the belly flat from one end to age. That's what tesa means: taut. Pancetta aged flat instead of rolled slices clean and dices evenly.

Dice it and render it slowly to start a pot of red sauce, soup, or beans. Crisp it for carbonara or amatriciana. Toss it with Brussels sprouts or green beans for a holiday side, or cut it long and thin to wrap a pork roast, scallops, or dates before they go in the oven.

How to cook it

Pancetta is cured, not cooked. Cook it until browned and crisp, to an internal temperature of 160°F.

• Start cold. Put diced pancetta in a cold pan over medium-low heat so the fat renders before it browns.
• Keep the fat. Cook your onions, garlic, or vegetables right in it. That's where the flavor is.
• Taste before you salt. It's cured with salt, so the dish may not need more.

Details

• About 8 oz piece, unsliced
• Pork belly cured with garlic, spices, red wine, and bay leaf, then hung flat to age
• Made by Smoking Goose, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Raw: cook to 160°F
• Keeps about 7 months frozen. Best-by date is on the label
• Ships frozen with dry ice

Ingredients

Pork Belly, Salt, Garlic, Spices (Black Pepper, Juniper Berries, Nutmeg), Brown Sugar, Red Wine, Bay Leaf, Celery Powder

FAQ

What does tesa mean?
Taut. Most pancetta is rolled into a log. Pancetta tesa is hung flat from one end while it ages, so it's easier to slice and dice evenly.

How is it different from bacon?
Bacon is usually smoked and sold sliced. Pancetta gets its flavor from the spices in the cure and comes as a piece you cut yourself, so you can dice it or slice it however the recipe needs.

Is it fully cooked?
No. It's cured, not cooked. Cook it to 160°F before eating.

How should I store it?
It arrives frozen. Keep it frozen until you need it, then thaw it in the refrigerator and keep it refrigerated.

Where is it made?
Indianapolis, Indiana.

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