Guanciale, or Jowl Bacon

User Reviews

4.9

26 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    15 mins

  • Total Time

    15 mins

  • Servings

    16 servings

  • Calories

    460 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    Italian

Guanciale, or Jowl Bacon

This is an easy way to get into cured meats. The process itself is not hard, although it takes time and a cool place to hang the meat. Probably the hardest part about making guanciale is finding a good hog jowl. You really want jowls from a quality pig. Farmer's markets often have good hog farmers selling their wares, so look them up. As for the curing salt No. 2, you can buy it online. 

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 1 hog jowl skin on, large
  • Instacure No. 2 (see above)
  • kosher salt (see above)
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper crushed
  • 2 teaspoons thyme dried
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 5 bay leaves 6, crushed

Instructions

  1. Mix all the cure ingredients together and pack the jowl with it. Massage the cure into the meat and fat. Put the jowl into a container (plastic, glass, ceramic, stainless steel) that just barely holds it, and toss in any remaining cure. Cover the container and put in the fridge for 4 to 7 days. Turn the jowl over once a day.
  2. When the meat has stiffened up at the thickest part, usually 5 days or more, rinse off the cure (you can leave a little on, but get most off), and pat the jowl dry. Put on a rack in a drafty place for several hours.
  3. Poke a hole through the skin on a corner of the jowl and tie string to it. Hang the jowl in a cool, moist place (50-55°F and at least 65 percent humidity, but see above for more curing instructions) for at least 3 weeks before eating. To store, cut into large chunks and vacuum seal or cover with plastic wrap and butcher paper before freezing. Guanciale will last, well-wrapped, in the fridge for several months.

Notes

  • Note that the prep time does not include curing or drying time. 

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 460kcal (23%) Carbohydrates 5g (2%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 45g (69%) Saturated Fat 16g (80%) Polyunsaturated Fat 5g (29%) Monounsaturated Fat 21g (105%) Cholesterol 61mg (20%) Sodium 28mg (1%) Potassium 171mg (4%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 18IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 10mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 460 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 460kcal 23%
Carbohydrates 5g 2%
Protein 8g 16%
Fat 45g 69%
Saturated Fat 16g 80%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g 29%
Monounsaturated Fat 21g 105%
Cholesterol 61mg 20%
Sodium 28mg 1%
Potassium 171mg 4%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 18IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 10mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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