This pancetta sandwich is a flavor-filled classic Italian panino recipe that pairs pancetta with pecorino cream, sundried tomatoes, and arugula.
Similar to many other panini, this one was inspired by the famous sandwich shop, Al' Antico Vinaio, which is located in Florence. They have many panini (the Italian word for sandwich) on their menu that have paved the way for so many Italian classics! This one is inspired by their "Joe Bastianich" sandwich.
A pancetta sandwich is any sandwich or panino that features pancetta in some way. There are many different combinations of pancetta sandwiches that you can make. A rule of thumb in traditional pancetta sandwiches is the simpler, the better!
The idea behind using a short ingredient list in Italian panini is that ingredients are of high quality, so not many are needed to make the sandwich delicious.
In this recipe, the pancetta sandwich is made with schiacciata bread, which is similar to focaccia. If you’re looking for more sandwich recipes, be sure to try this mortadella sandwich or prosciutto sandwich recipe! You can use any type of bread that you prefer! I used fresh buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, and fresh basil as fillings for the sandwich.
Here's why you should make this pancetta panino:
- It's super simple: This recipe comes together with just 5 easy ingredients and doesn't require any cooking. Make a pancetta sandwich when you're in a time crunch or when you're just craving something easy.
- The flavors are amazing. You can't go wrong with pancetta, especially when it's combined with delicious ingredients like pecorino cream, sundried tomatoes, and arugula.
- You can get creative with the recipe: Panini are easy to adjust based on your preferences and what you have on hand. Experiment with different types of breads and fillings!
Ingredients
- Pancetta: The primary ingredient! Pancetta is a type of salt-cured meat made from pork belly. It has a mild "bacon-like" flavor and tastes great on sandwiches.
- Schiacciata bread: The type of bread that I used. Schiacciata is an Italian flatbread similar to focaccia. You can use any type of bread that you prefer to make a prosciutto sandwich.
- Pecorino cream: This sandwich topping is made of aged pecorino cheese combined with water. It's soft and super easy to spread over schiacciata bread.
- Sundried tomatoes: I love using these as a pancetta panino topping; their acidity complements the deep flavors of pancetta.
- Arugula: The peppery flavor of arugula makes for the perfect pancetta sandwich topping.
Filling options for a pancetta sandwich:
Simplicity is key for Italian panini, including this pancetta sandwich. It is very common for Italians to eat pancetta alone on sandwiches so they can truly savor its flavor.
Sometimes, toppings like cheese are added to pancetta sandwiches. Pecorino cream, sundried tomatoes, and arugula are the only fillings that I used in this recipe. Here are a few other filling options that you can try:
- Burrata and tomato slices
- Mozzarella and basil
How to make it - step by step
Make the pecorino cream
Place the grated pecorino in a blender. Add the ¼ cup water and blend until a creamy consistency form (photo 1)
Make the panino
Start by cutting the schiacciata bread in half.
Spread the pecorino cream over the bread slices. Then, place the pancetta on the base of the sandwich.
Top the pancetta with sundried tomatoes and arugula (photo 4)
Place the other piece of bread on top to form a sandwich (photo 5) Serve and enjoy!
FAQ
Pancetta is a cut of meat that comes from pork belly. It is seasoned and salt-cured which is where it gets its depth of flavors, and can be eaten cooked or uncooked. Pancetta differs from prosciutto in that proscuitto is made from the back leg of a pig. It takes about 3 weeks to cure pancetta.
There are many different ways that you can enjoy pancetta. One of the most popular ways is to eat it on a simple sandwich, or to pair it with cheese and crackers, or pasta. Pancetta also tastes great on toast or when combined with roasted vegetables.
The flavor of pancetta is often described as "distinctly porky". It is sometimes compared to bacon, although it is not smoked so lacks the smokey flavor.
More Italian Recipes
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Recipe
Pancetta Sandwich with Pecorino Cream, Sundried Tomatoes and Arugula
Ingredients
For the pecorino cream
- 1 cup pecorino romano grated
- ¼ cup room temperature water see notes
For the Sandwich
- 1 schiacciata recipe optional - can use any bread
- 100 grams pancetta - sliced
- 6 sundried tomatoes see notes
- ⅔ cup arugula
Instructions
Make the pecorino cream
- Place the grated pecorino in a blender. Add the ¼ cup water and blend until a creamy consistency forms.
Make the sandwich
- Start by cutting the schiacciata bread in half. Spread the pecorino cream over the bread slices.
- Then, place the pancetta on the base of the sandwich. Top the pancetta with sundried tomatoes and arugula.
- Place the other piece of bread on top to form a sandwich. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Start with ¼ cup water for the pecorino cream, but you may need to end up adding ⅔ cups if it needs to be thinned out a bit
- You may not use all the pecorino cream. Save it and use it for another sandwich! Or it would be delicious in pasta or on crostini
- I used about 6 sundried tomatoes, but it depends on the size of the tomatoes
- The size of this sandwich is about 6x5 inches
Pat says
Twice you indicated grated pecorino cream. Isn’t it only dream after the water is added. Confused there.
Pina says
Sorry about that Pat! I have updated the recipe. But yes, you should add the grated pecorino to the blender with the water, and the once the pecorino and water are mixed together, the cream will form.
Miguel says
What would you recommend if I want to make a large batch of pecorino cream and increase the volume that it yields? Do you recommend adding something else like cream cheese or something that doesn't have a strong flavor where I could increase the volume?
Pina says
HI Miguel! Adding cream cheese would be a good option or even ricotta.
Another option is to make a bechamel sauce and add in lots of grated pecorino at the end.
Hope this helps!
Pina