What makes this “Speck”? Isn’t that a different cut of meat?
Bought this at Il Gigante in Italy, really curious how this differs from normal pancetta. If it indeed differs at all.
by Axoloth
8 Comments
HikeyBoi
I think it’s the same cut but the difference is that it has been smoked
rstaccini
Yes, it’s smoked. Speck is very common especially in the northern regions and is rich in the smoky flavor. The text on the packaging states naturally smoked with beech wood. Enjoy!
Meancvar
Yes speck (which is normally from the back like prosciutto) is cold smoked ie not cooked, just exposed to the smoke. This is a variety of smoked pancetta, I guess. Note that bacon instead is smoked at higher temperature (eg 250F – 110C).
MadMex2U
Pepper-specked?
HolyGarbanzoBeanz
This is confusing. There is no such thing as “pancetta speck”. I see two pieces of pancetta in the picture. Pancetta literally means belly. Speck is essentially ham (or prosciutto) so it’s a different cut, it is not that fat, and is curred differently. So what you have is pancetta, not speck.
You can get useful info from the label on the back. Where you see the “ingredienti” part, you should find the correct product name, then the ingredients in descending order of quantity.
Looks like normal pancetta, smoked, don’t know why they added the “speck” in the name, maybe this version has some more spices than usual and reminds the taste of speck (which, as other said, is from a different part of the animal and is much leaner).
8 Comments
I think it’s the same cut but the difference is that it has been smoked
Yes, it’s smoked. Speck is very common especially in the northern regions and is rich in the smoky flavor.
The text on the packaging states naturally smoked with beech wood.
Enjoy!
Yes speck (which is normally from the back like prosciutto) is cold smoked ie not cooked, just exposed to the smoke. This is a variety of smoked pancetta, I guess. Note that bacon instead is smoked at higher temperature (eg 250F – 110C).
Pepper-specked?
This is confusing. There is no such thing as “pancetta speck”. I see two pieces of pancetta in the picture. Pancetta literally means belly. Speck is essentially ham (or prosciutto) so it’s a different cut, it is not that fat, and is curred differently. So what you have is pancetta, not speck.
That’s not speck (despite what the label says, it’s pancetta) This is speck https://www.senfter.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Baffa-tagliere-600×500.png
You can get useful info from the label on the back. Where you see the “ingredienti” part, you should find the correct product name, then the ingredients in descending order of quantity.
This one is for your product:
https://i.imgur.com/NRxX2DJ.jpeg
Looks like normal pancetta, smoked, don’t know why they added the “speck” in the name, maybe this version has some more spices than usual and reminds the taste of speck (which, as other said, is from a different part of the animal and is much leaner).
Love speck