Pancetta

Method

1. Carefully cut the skin off the pork belly and trim off any loose bits. Coat the pork belly in the salt, rubbing it all over for an even covering.
2. Place the salted belly in an airtight plastic container and refrigerate for 7–9 days. Each day, flip the meat over so the liquid drains from the meat.
3. Once the meat has hardened (because the salt has drawn out the moisture), wash the salt off.
4. At this stage, I cut off a small slice and fry it to check its salt content. If it’s way too salty, I pop the meat in a pot of cold water for a few hours, which reduces some of the saltiness. Drain and allow to dry completely before continuing.
5. Lay the belly down on what was the skin side. Evenly sprinkle the pepper over the meat.
6. Cut a 1 metre length of twine, then roll that belly up nice and tight. Strongly tie one end of the rolled belly with the twine, then make a loose loop in the long end of the twine, pull it down over the roll to just below the first tie and pull tight. Continue this process until you get to the end of the rolled log of meat.
7. Take another long length of twine and thread it through those loops from one end of the log to the other. Repeat this step four or five times, making lengthways threads that will provide some support to the pancetta as it cures hanging up.
8. Hang in a non-draughty, fly-proof meat safe for 8–10 weeks, then treat as you would a bought pancetta.