Pork is often a staple foodstuff on the mountain locations of northern Italy, wherever it’s frequently stated that a nicely butchered pig really should depart ‘practically nothing though the oink’ powering. Like a pig is often close to thirty% fat, thrifty locals had to come up with a method to use and maintain this important supply of protein, and the result is Lardo.
Lardo di Colonnata, to offer it its complete title, is really a delicacy generated from pork Fats in and round the Tuscan mountain town of Colonnata. Happily for followers of cured meat, it’s not merely a frugal technique for preserving pork fat more than Wintertime – it’s mouth watering also!
It’s produced in big vats often known as conche, fashioned from marble quarried on the close by ‘white mountain’ of Cararra, which happen to be 1st liberally rubbed with garlic. Upcoming, levels of pork Extra fat, salt, along with a Exclusive mix of herbs and spices are included right up until the vats are full. The conche are then sealed by using a wooden lid and remaining in interesting mountain caves for 6 months or longer to mature during the clean up air.
After the maturation time is more than, the conche are opened to reveal a silky-clean, meltingly tender ‘meat’ which may be eaten in A great deal the same way as Parma Ham or other prosciutto.
Even though Lardo is often accustomed to retain roasted meats moist by positioning a skinny layer in excess of the skin, it is also delightful only sliced thinly and eaten with bread, olives, and a great added virgin olive oil as Portion of an antipasto program. It's in no way rough or greasy, and is also perfectly worth seeking even when the idea of feeding on pure Extra fat leaves you somewhat apprehensive!
Regardless of the very long many years of making Lardo in the traditional way, the vast majority of examples that you may perhaps discover in your neighborhood deli or shop should have been designed in a way more industrial placing, largely because of contemporary hygiene legal guidelines using priority around customs and heritage. Absent tend to be the marble conche and the mountain air, changed by stainless steel and air-con.
Having said that, site visitors to the region around Colonnata may still be Blessed and obtain keep of Lardo created inside the previous way that has been confirmed more than the artisan foods centuries – just don’t notify the authorities if you need to do!