CarneAtlas

Cabeza de cerdovsGuanciale

pork · Approximate equivalent

Guanciale is cured pork jowl, anatomically a subset of the head. The whole head as a cut is the parent category.

Translation takeaway

These are related cuts, but not perfect swaps. Use the table below to judge how close your local option is before buying.

Open Cabeza de cerdoOpen GuancialeSee substitutes
Raw Cabeza de cerdo — Pork Head cut
Cabeza de cerdo
Pork · Head

The whole pork head — a foundational ingredient in nose-to-tail butchery worldwide and the source of multiple regional specialties. In Mexico, the head goes into *carnitas*…

HeadBladeArm ShoulderLoinLegRibsBellyHock
Raw Guanciale — Pork Head cut
Guanciale
Pork · Head

Cured pork jowl — the traditional fat ingredient in Roman pasta dishes (carbonara, amatriciana, gricia). Salt-cured for one to two weeks, then air-dried for several months with…

HeadBladeArm ShoulderLoinLegRibsBellyHock
Keep Cabeza de cerdo and Guanciale together in your notebook.

Names by country

CountryCabeza de cerdoGuanciale
🇺🇸United StatesPig headGuanciale
🇬🇧United KingdomPig headGuanciale
🇫🇷FranceTête de porcGuanciale
🇪🇸Spain—Guanciale
🇦🇷Argentina—Guanciale
🇲🇽MexicoCabeza de cerdoGuanciale
🇵🇹PortugalCabeça de porcoGuanciale
🇧🇷BrazilCabeça de porcoGuanciale
🇮🇹ItalyTesta di maialeGuanciale
🇩🇪GermanySchweinekopfGuanciale

Would you know it at the counter?

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