guanciale

An Italian cured meat prepared from pork jowl or cheeks. It is fundamentally similar to pancetta but boasts a significantly higher ratio of fat to meat, providing an incredibly rich, melt-in-the-mouth texture and a more robust, porky flavor essential for authentic Spaghetti alla Carbonara. **Selection & Storage:** Usually sold in blocks. Store tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, and dice it directly before rendering it in a cold pan.