Lardo di Colonnata

Not strictly speaking Swiss....but pretty close...

I purchased some Lardo di Colonnata from one of the stalls on Basel market a couple of days ago, having tried it on bruschetta during our last Italian holiday and loved it.

However, on getting home and remembering that I am a middle aged family man with financial responsibilities, I had second thoughts and decided that just slicing it thin and eating on bread raw is probably not the best thing to do for pure animal fat, despite it being tasty.

Just wondered if there were any other uses for it - all the web seems to show is the typical way of consuming it

(Of course, I know that putting it in some other dish is still consuming it....but dispersing it a little bit makes it feel a little less like coronary Russian Roulette...even if it isn't really!)

Also, how long does it keep? I know its cured to last for a long time in large pieces - that's the point, but once cut into purchased blocks...how does it keep then?

Expecting a reply from the Ticino chef soon...but any other input welcomed

If it melts, how about cooking some scallops in the fat - bacon fat and shellfish is pretty much a winner every time in my book.

Sod it, bacon fat and pretty much anything savoury is always a winner.

Agreed! I made "bacon jam" this week - fantastic stuff!

Woah, that looks good - what did you use for the bacon element? I have a few rashers of english back bacon in the freezer (makes heavenly bacon sarnies with Zöpfe) I am loathe to use for this, is there a swiss alternative meat?

Regarding storage, on the basis that Lardons freeze well and are instantly de-frosted in the frying pan I would suggest freezing.

Don't you dare make bacon jam with the lardo!!!

Eat it straight. Leave off the bread. Or give it to middle aged people with no children, if you know any.....

Well, if you bother searching

My place is a bit far for you mountain dwellers, but the thread itself tells of similar in Migros

(Look - JRspet - crosslinking and everything - are you proud of me? )

I bet it's not as good as pork dripping and stuffing sarnies.

Have seen in Colonnata that they do a pasta dish with it but not sure how.If anyone knows the recipe I would also like it as Ive a bit in my fridge

lardo with ground black pepper eaten straight is lovely. don't melt it, that would be a sin!

If it's unsliced, it will keep for months. If it develops mold (which it can if left for long periods in a plastic bag in the fridge), wash it off, let it dry for half a day, then put it back in the fridge (in a new bag).

Like most Italian cured meats, it's almost always eaten raw. Thin slices on hot pizza would be the way to go if you don't want it totally raw. Or maybe cubed and added to some hot beans or lentils.

Tom

never heard of this before, but certainly want to try it now!

Anyone have the recipe for the pasta or gnochi?

http://www.cookaround.com/yabbse1/sh...d.php?t=183119

http://pastacarbonara.it/tutte-le-ri...colonnata.html

http://daldolcealsalato.myblog.it/ar...-e-funghi.html

Tom

As an Italian, I should consider not eating your Lardo di Colonnata (raw, in thin slices over toasted bread or bruschetta) such a waste

Definitely don't melt it. The pasta recipes sound interesting though!

Definitely not your healthy daily meal starter, but you can indulge with something flavory a couple of times a year, can you?

As for the kids, they already get their daily portions of unhealthy fats with their snacks... so they won't even touch the Lardo!