Beans with Pork Rind

Beans with pork rind is a traditional dish of Italian cuisine, particularly typical of the Lazio region. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

• 300 g of dried borlotti beans
• 200 g of pork rind
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 1 stalk of celery
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Vegetable broth or water as needed
• Chili pepper (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by soaking the dried beans in cold water at least 12 hours before preparing the dish; this step will help to reduce cooking time.
2. In a large saucepan, make a light sauté with extra virgin olive oil, chopped onion, carrot and celery diced, and whole garlic cloves.
3. Add the pork rind, previously cut into strips, and let it brown until it becomes slightly golden.
4. After about 5 minutes, remove the garlic and add the beans drained from their soaking water. Cover the ingredients with vegetable broth or hot water, add the rosemary sprig, chili pepper if you like, and let cook on medium-low heat for about 2-3 hours, or until the beans have become soft.
5. During cooking, if necessary, add more broth or water to keep the beans well covered.
6. At the end of cooking, season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. For a final touch, you can remove some of the beans, blend them, and put them back in the pot to thicken the sauce.

Fun Facts

Beans with pork rind are even tastier if left to rest and eaten the next day. This allows the flavors to blend better and the dish to become richer in taste. In some variations, it is also possible to add a bay leaf during cooking for an additional aroma.

Remember that the dish is extremely rich and filling, so it is often served as a main course. Enjoy your meal!