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Guanciale Matured Pork Cheek (≈1kg)

Guanciale Matured Pork Cheek (≈1kg)

The Roman pasta secret: cured pork jowl, dry-aged with black pepper. The only authentic fat for carbonara, amatriciana and gricia.

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Origin: Italy

£34.98
Regular price £34.98 GBP
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Description

The Roman pasta secret: cured pork jowl, dry-aged with black pepper. The only authentic fat for carbonara, amatriciana and gricia.

Guanciale is cured pork jowl, the cut from the cheek of the pig. Dry-aged with salt, black pepper and a gentle herb rub for several weeks, it develops a deep, almost honeyed character that pancetta and bacon cannot match. It is the foundation of three of Rome's classic pasta dishes: carbonara, amatriciana and gricia. Substituting it with bacon will give a different dish entirely. Guanciale renders slowly, releasing a clear, savoury fat that coats every strand of pasta. To use, dice the meat, including a generous proportion of the fat, and render in a cold dry pan over a low heat. Once the fat runs and the pieces crisp at the edges, the pasta and its starchy cooking water do the rest. It also has a quieter life beyond Roman pasta: a few cubes will lift a pot of beans, a winter braise or a tray of roasted potatoes. ≈imately 1kg whole piece. Catchweight item, actual weight may vary.

Origin

Made in Italy.

Dimensions

Net weight 1kg. Packed in a sealed pack.

Features

  • Italy origin
  • Pork-rich and gently sweet with peppery cure and a long savoury fat.
  • Guanciale is cured pork jowl, the cut from the cheek of the pig.
  • It is the foundation of three of Rome's classic pasta dishes: carbonara, amatriciana and gricia.

Use Cases

Guanciale is unsmoked Italian cured pork jowl, salted, peppered and air-dried for several weeks. The high proportion of fat is what gives Roman pasta its character.

≈imately 1kg whole piece. Catchweight item, actual weight may vary.

How to use:

  • Carbonara, amatriciana and gricia: the authentic choice.
  • Render slowly in a cold dry pan to release the fat without burning.
  • Add small cubes to braised beans, lentils or winter stews.
  • Toss with roasted potatoes in the last few minutes of cooking.

What's Included

One 1kg sealed pack of Guanciale Matured Pork Cheek (≈1kg). No additional accessories or utensils.

Storage

Keep refrigerated at 2 to 5 degrees Celsius. Once cut, wrap the cut face in parchment and consume within three weeks.

Product guide: Guanciale vs pancetta for carbonara covers the traditional cut, substitutes and rendering method.

Ingredients and Allergens

How to use:

  • Carbonara, amatriciana and gricia: the authentic choice.
  • Render slowly in a cold dry pan to release the fat without burning.
  • Add small cubes to braised beans, lentils or winter stews.
  • Toss with roasted potatoes in the last few minutes of cooking.

Allergen statement: see product label.

Express Delivery

We use an Express courier service for UK delivery. For orders submitted Monday morning to Thursday morning, delivery time is 24 to 48 hours. Beleaev gourmet products are securely packaged to preserve product quality during transit. Frozen and chilled items are dispatched in insulated boxes with ice packs to maintain cold-chain integrity.

Seasonal Delivery Notice
During the festive seasons, courier networks across the UK and Europe are experiencing exceptionally high volumes.
While we dispatch all BELEAEV orders promptly and under strict cold-chain control, delivery times may occasionally extend to 1-3 business days.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Unfortunately, these seasonal delays are beyond our control, however, cold-chain integrity, freshness and product quality are always fully maintained.

View full details
Guanciale matured pork cheek slab weighing approximately 1kg on a wooden surface Guanciale matured pork cheek approximately one kilogram Guanciale matured pork cheek cured and dry-aged with black pepper in sealed 1kg pack from Italy
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  • 5 stars: 27 (90%)
  • 4 stars: 2 (7%)
  • 3 stars: 1 (3%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
G
Gerald Lund
Beautifully packaged

Ordered the Guanciale Matured Pork Cheek and it arrived bang on the day, well chilled.

T
Tom Pike
Faultless delivery

Bought this for my husband's birthday. Ordered the Guanciale Matured Pork Cheek and it arrived bang on the day, well chilled.

J
James Fanshawe
So glad I ordered

Reordered before the first lot had gone. The Guanciale Matured Pork Cheek came good. Sliced lovely and thin.

E
Eve Cox
Mixed feelings

Nice enough, though I expected a little more for what I paid.

A
Alessandro van Dijk
Lovely service

The gift packaging was elegant and made a wonderful impression. The team kept me updated at every step, really reassuring.

M
Mateo Fischer

Rich, buttery and tender right through. Beautiful colour, lovely fat and a flavour that lingered. The whole order was packed with real care.

C
Caroline Winters
Highly recommend

Bought the beef for a relaxed supper at home. The quality was obvious from the first bite, exceptional.

F
Freya Marsh
Genuinely impressed

Ordered the beef for a birthday and everyone loved it. Cooked up beautifully, easily as good as a steakhouse. This has become a regular order for us.

H
Helen Turner
Perfect

Got the beef for an anniversary dinner. Juicy, full flavoured and cooked to perfection. Incredible flavour and so tender you barely needed a knife. Everything was sealed properly and arrived in pristine condition.

R
Richard Ashworth

Simple, smooth ordering from start to finish. Delivery was quick, tracked and exactly when they said it would be. A new favourite in our house.

S
Sophie White
So good

Incredible flavour and so tender you barely needed a knife. Five stars from us.

R
Rosie Green
First class service

Customer service were lovely and genuinely helpful when I had a question. Ordered one afternoon and it arrived first thing the next morning.

F
Freya Moore
Exceeded expectations

Ordered the beef as a gift and it went down a treat. Beautiful colour, lovely fat and a flavour that lingered. Seared it hard and rested it, and it was faultless. A touch pricey, but the quality justifies it.

P
Paul Webb
Absolutely lovely

Cooked to a perfect medium rare and unbelievably tender.

C
Clara Whitmore
Always reliable

Easy to order, clear delivery options and no fuss at all. Already planning my next order.

M
Michael White
Delicious

Seasoned simply and let the quality do the talking, superb. Cooked to a perfect medium rare and unbelievably tender. Packaging was excellent and it turned up in great condition.

R
Roger Whitmore

Rich, buttery and tender right through. Juicy, full flavoured and cooked to perfection.

G
Grace Thornton
Genuinely impressed

Got the beef for an anniversary dinner. Cooked up beautifully, easily as good as a steakhouse. The quality was obvious from the first bite, exceptional. Arrived next day, beautifully packed.

P
Poppy Hughes

Cooked to a perfect medium rare and unbelievably tender. Cooked up beautifully, easily as good as a steakhouse.

B
Bertram Crewdson
Real concentration of flavour

Beautifully cured and beautifully fresh.

C
Chiara Navarro
Quick and reliable

Speedy dispatch and the box turned up in pristine condition. Easy to order, clear delivery options and no fuss at all.

H
Harriet Whitmore
Perfect

The quality was obvious from the first bite, exceptional. Rich, buttery and tender right through. Everything was sealed properly and arrived in pristine condition. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

L
Lukas Fernandez
A new favourite

Beautiful colour, lovely fat and a flavour that lingered.

O
Oliver Ashworth

Ordered the beef as a gift and it went down a treat. Beautiful colour, lovely fat and a flavour that lingered. Seared it hard and rested it, and it was faultless.

C
Cassidy Wright
Already on a second piece

Confident reorder.

C
Caleb Trent
Slightly saltier cure than usual

Lovely deep flavour and beautifully crafted. The cure was a fraction saltier than the previous piece.

A
Annabelle Ware
Brilliant for carbonara

True Roman carbonara depends on real guanciale.

A
Augustus Pelham
Serious investment

1kg lasts a while. Worth keeping in the fridge.

A
Ambrose Talbot
Wonderful Italian import

The cured pork cheek depth is brilliant. Beautifully done.

B
Beatrix Hollins
Always to hand

For spontaneous pasta, brilliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this Guanciale the authentic choice for traditional Italian pasta dishes?
This Guanciale is made from Italian cured pork and dry-aged with black pepper, making it an authentic Italian ingredient essential for classic recipes like carbonara, Amatriciana, and gricia. Its traditional preparation process ensures rich, pork-forward flavors that are key to authentic Italian pasta.
What are the main flavor characteristics of this dry-aged Guanciale from Albion Fine Foods?
This dry-aged Guanciale is pork-rich, gently sweet, with a peppery cure and long savory fat, giving it a complex and rich flavor profile ideal for adding depth to pasta dishes. Its cured, air-dried process brings out a traditional, robust taste.
How should I store and prepare the Guanciale to maintain its quality?
Store the Guanciale in the refrigerator at 2 to 5°C and keep it sealed. After cutting, wrap the exposed surface in parchment paper and consume within three weeks to enjoy its fresh, cured flavor. Proper storage preserves its quality and flavor.