
Wild Boar with Potatoes
Cinghiale con Patate
Wild boar with potatoes is a slow-cooked preparation with lardo, onion and aromatic herbs.
Wild boar with potatoes is a rustic and hearty Italian dish, designed for slow cooking to tenderize the meat and soften the side dish. The preparation enhances the bold flavor of the wild boar with the savory component of the lardo or of the pancetta, while onion, sweet mint, thyme, myrtle, wild fennel and chives create an intense and distinctive flavor profile. The potatoes absorb some of the juices and aromas, becoming a smooth and rich accompaniment. The technique involves the use of a special hermetically sealed copper container, placed over coals or in a covered pit over an open flame. The absence of an opening during cooking allows moisture and aromas to be retained. The result is a compact, fragrant dish, suitable for a large meal. This recipe is a traditional Italian dish.
Instructions
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7 steps · natural Italian voice
Prepare the wild boar
Cut the wild boar meat into evenly sized pieces to ensure more even cooking. Arrange it in the circular, concave copper container, leaving the pieces clustered at the bottom. The consistent size helps achieve a tender texture without leaving any dry or tough parts.
Join the lardo
Thinly slice the lardo or the pancetta Spread it evenly over the meat, as it will release its fat during the long cooking process and help keep the boar tender. Continue until the slices are evenly distributed, without forming a single, compact layer.
Add the potatoes
Cut the potatoes into evenly sized pieces and place them in the container with the meat. Keep the pieces similar in size so they cook at the same time. The potatoes should be tender at the end of the cooking process, but not completely falling apart.
Complete with aromas
Slice the onion and add it to the container, then add sweet mint, thyme, myrtle, wild fennel and chives. Salt Evenly distributed. The herbs should be distributed evenly between the meat and potatoes, so their aroma can spread during the slow cooking process.
Close the container
Place the lid of the same shape on top and fit it perfectly onto the bottom. Make sure the seal is airtight before proceeding: the container should retain the steam and aromas, with no visible gaps or play between the two parts.
Cook on the embers
Place the container over the embers of the fireplace and let it cook for a few hours. Keep the cooking slow and prolonged, without opening the container during the cooking process. The dish is ready when the meat is tender and the potatoes are soft, with an intense herb aroma.
Complete the underground cooking
Alternatively, follow the traditional hunter's method: place the container in a pit and cover it with a high flame. Let it cook for a few hours, keeping the container closed. Open it only after cooking, when the meat and potatoes have reached the desired tenderness.
Chef's Tips
The editorial team recommends keeping the container tightly closed during cooking, so that the steam retains moisture, aromas, and tenderness in the meat.
Ingredients
- Ingredients for 4 people
- (2.2 lb) 1 kg of wild boar meat
- (2.2 lb) 1 kg potatoes
- (1.76 oz) 50 g of lardo (cured pork fatback) or pancetta
- 1 onion sweet mint
- thyme, myrtle, wild fennel chives
- salt
Can't find it in the US?
- wild boarMostly online
Pork shoulder marinated overnight in red wine with juniper berries
- lardo (cured pork fatback)Italian delis or online
The fattiest part of pancetta, finely chopped
Or: Salt pork, rinsed and finely chopped
Lardo is a cured meat, not lard (rendered fat). Salt pork is saltier: reduce the salt.
- pancettaMost US supermarkets
Unsmoked bacon or salt pork, blanched 1 minute in boiling water
Salt pork is saltier: taste before adding salt.
- myrtleHard to find in the US
Bay leaf plus a few juniper berries
- wild fennelHard to find in the US
Fennel fronds plus a pinch of crushed fennel seed
Or: Fresh dill plus fennel seed









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