Pane c Meusa
Pane c Meusa
Poached spleen and lung sandwich
When you walk around the neighborhood just east of the Ballarò Market in Palermo, brown street signs (as opposed to the standard white stone) list the street names in Italian, Arabic, and Hebrew. The special signage is a reminder that the neighborhood was the Jewish quarter, which thrived during the Middle Ages when Palermo was a cosmopolitan place. This all changed with the Spanish Inquisition, which demanded that non-Catholics convert or leave the Aragon kingdom. The signage is one of the few tangible vestiges of the Jewish community that thrived there. But the community’s culture is still present in other ways, including in the foods that have been fully absorbed into the city’s culinary canon. Among these is pane câ meusa, a sliced spleen sandwich. It’s one of Palermo’s most beloved street foods today and is sold from stalls and stands throughout the city. It’s virtually synonymous with the Sicilian capital, and though the idea of eating spleen might put some off, the flavor and texture are like that of a tender steak. You can order spleen in advance from some butchers.
Ingredients (9)
Ingredients (9)
Instructions
Place the spleen and lung in a large bowl with cold water to cover. Set aside to soak for 30 minutes. Drain and rinse well.
Transfer the spleen and lung to a pot with cold water to cover. Add the lemon, bay leaves, peppercorns, and a heavy pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Drain, discarding the lemon, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Set aside to cool. When cool enough to handle, cut the spleen and lungs into very thin pieces, less than ⅛ inch thick, if possible.
Melt the lard in a large pot over medium heat. Add the spleen and poach for 5 minutes to infuse with lard flavor, managing the heat so the lard is hot but not bubbling. Remove the spleen and drain on paper towels. Season with salt, then divide evenly among the vastedde
Sprinkle the spleen and lung with caciocavallo and serve warm. (The cheese is aged and won’t melt.)
Notes
Notes
For a classic Palermo experience,
dig out and discard the crumb (soft interior) of the bread.
This recipe is part of the Food of the Italian Islands digital cookbook, and is only available once you've purchased the cookbook.
Purchase ($25.00)