Penne with Pancetta, Provolone and Salami (Penne alla Silana)
- Makes4 to 6 servings
- Cook Time30 minutes
This substantial pasta dish comes from the Sila area of Calabria in southern Italy, a region known for bold, intensely flavorful ingredients. Pasta alla silana combines cured meats and two kinds of cheese, along with tomatoes, chili and onion. Classic versions also include porcini mushrooms, but we found the dish to be loaded with flavor without the porcini, so we left them out. The regional pasta for this is fileja, an elongated tubular shape formed by rolling dough around a slender rod. It’s difficult to find in the U.S., but penne works perfectly.
Don’t use hard salami, as its texture is too chewy for this dish. Opt for a softer variety, such as Genoa salami, which usually is sold by the pound at the supermarket deli counter. Since the salami is cut into ¼-inch cubes for tossing with the pasta, ask for it to be cut as a chunk rather than thinly sliced.
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