Pork is really a staple food stuff of your mountain locations of northern Italy, in which it’s often claimed that a properly butchered pig should really go away ‘absolutely nothing nevertheless the oink’ driving. Being a pig is typically all around 30% Fats, thrifty locals had to think of a method to use and maintain this worthwhile supply of protein, and The end result is Lardo.
Lardo di Colonnata, to give it its complete name, can be a delicacy created from pork Fats in and around the Tuscan mountain city of Colonnata. Happily for admirers of cured meat, it’s not simply a frugal technique for preserving pork Excess fat around Wintertime – it’s delightful far too!
It’s manufactured in substantial vats generally known as conche, fashioned from marble quarried at the close by ‘white mountain’ of Cararra, which are first liberally rubbed with garlic. Future, layers of pork fat, salt, and a Distinctive mixture of herbs and spices are extra until finally the vats are full. The conche are then sealed with a wooden lid and remaining in great mountain caves for 6 months or extended to experienced during the cleanse air.
Following the maturation time is about, the conche are opened to reveal a silky-clean, meltingly tender ‘meat’ that may be eaten in much the exact same way as Parma Ham or other prosciutto.
While Lardo is commonly used to retain roasted meats moist by placing a skinny layer over the skin, it is also delightful simply sliced thinly and eaten with bread, olives, and a fantastic extra virgin olive oil as Element of an antipasto study course. It's by no means rough or greasy, and it is properly truly worth trying regardless of whether the thought of having pure Unwanted fat leaves you just a little apprehensive!
Regardless of the extended yrs of creating Lardo in the traditional way, most of the examples you may possibly locate in your neighborhood deli or store can have click here been produced in a way more industrial environment, mostly due to modern hygiene guidelines having priority above customs and heritage. Gone tend to be the marble conche along with the mountain air, changed by chrome steel and air con.
However, visitors to the region close to Colonnata may still be Fortunate and have maintain of Lardo produced from the outdated way which has been proven more than the generations – just don’t notify the authorities if you are doing!