The Italians might do most foodie things better than us but they can’t improve on good old British bacon. Oh, hang on: they can. Pancetta is their version of streaky bacon, cured from pork belly. In the UK it’s usually sold in diced form, smaller than lardons, and sometimes as rashers if you’re near a posh deli. It has many uses, including in pasta dishes such as creamy carbonara.
Recipes with pancetta
Colcannon cakes with crisp pancetta and stilton
Creamy mushroom, pancetta and chilli penne