Pancetta

Pancetta is an Italian cured meat made from pork belly, seasoned with salt and spices such as black pepper, nutmeg and juniper, then either rolled into a cylindrical shape and air dried or left flat, depending on regional style. Unlike bacon, pancetta is traditionally cured but not smoked, giving it a more delicate, purely savory flavor closer to prosciutto than to smoked bacon. It is a foundational ingredient in Italian cooking, used to add richness to dishes such as carbonara and amatriciana and to many braises and soups, either diced and rendered as a base flavor or sliced thin and eaten on its own.