What Cut Is Pancetta

Pancetta is an Italian, salt-cured meat made from pork belly.

What can be substituted for pancetta?

Pancetta is the same cut as American bacon, so that’s the first substitute that comes to mind. Canadian bacon, salt pork, prosciutto, smoked ham, and smoked sausage are all good choices as well.

Is pancetta the same as prosciutto?

Prosciutto is very different from either bacon or pancetta, but we think it gets confusing because the words prosciutto and pancetta can sound similar to our non-Italian ears! Prosciutto is made from the hind leg of a pig (ie, the ham), and outside Italy, calling it prosciutto indicates a ham that has been cured.