Cecina (meat)

Cecina de León redirects here

Cecina

Cecina
Course	Appetiser
Place of origin	Spain
Region or state	León
Serving temperature	Room temperature (appx. 15-20° C)
Main ingredients	Beef
Variations	Jamón
Cookbook: Cecina  Media: Cecina

In Spanish, cecina [θeˈθina] means "meat that has been salted and dried by means of air, sun or smoke". The word comes either from the Latin siccus (dry) or from the Iberian ciercina related to modern Spanish cierzo or northern wind.

Spain

Spain, cecina is similar to ham, is made by curing beef, horse or (less frequently) goat, rabbit, or hare. The best known cecina is Cecina de León, which is made of the hind legs of beef, salted, smoked and air-dried in the province of León in northwestern Spain, and has PGI status.

Latin America

The word cecina is also used to name other kinds of dried or cured meat in Latin America.

Mexico

In Mexico, most cecina is of two kinds: sheets of marinated beef, and a pork cut that is pounded thin and coated with chili pepper (this type is called cecina enchilada or carne enchilada).^[1] The beef version is salted and marinated and laid to dry somewhat in the sun. The marinated beef version can be consumed uncooked, similar to prosciutto. The pork "cecina enchilada" must be cooked before consumption. The town of Yecapixtla is well known for its version of the dish, which varies from region to region.^[2]

Cecina in Mexico

See also

• Bresaola
• Pastırma
• Leonese cuisine
• List of dried foods
• List of smoked foods
• List of Mexican dishes
• List of Spanish dishes

References

1. "Menu in Progress: Anatomy of an Oaxacan Carniceria.". Retrieved 2008-04-2008. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
2. "The Cooking Fire". Retrieved 2008-04-2008. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

External links

• Consejo Regulador de la Indicación Geográfica Protegida "Cecina de León", PGI Consortium
• Cecina de León elaboration