Fried eggs are always a quick and easy option for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner. And what goes better with eggs than bacon?

My family loves this Italian rendition of traditional bacon and eggs. These pancetta fried eggs cut cooking time significantly since the pancetta is cooked over the eggs, as opposed to in the microwave or another pan like traditional bacon.

Pancetta, bacon…same difference, right? Wrong.

Bacon and pancetta are both made from pork bellies. While bacon is brined and then smoked, pancetta is made by seasoning a pork belly side with salt and pepper. It’s cured, but it isn’t smoked, which makes it fresher and lighter tasting than North American bacon.

Most of us think of bacon in terms of breakfast as an accompaniment to eggs, or as an extra ingredient in a burger. Add to that short list the occasional BLT, and this is pretty much the extent to which North Americans consume bacon.

On the contrary, Italians adore their pancetta and include it in as many dishes as possible-it’s used to flavour other foods, such as sauces and stews, and it’s almost always included in an antipasto platter.

And let’s not forget, pasta carbonara-one of Italy’s greatest gifts to North American cuisine!

Back to the recipe, if you can even call it that. All you need are eggs and pancetta-and of course a little extra virgin olive oil for frying.

The joys of living in a small town in the Italian countryside (if only for two months during the summer) is that there is always at least one person you know who grows their own produce, makes their own cheeses and meats, and has the odd chicken or two in their yard.

Locally cured pancetta and local eggs-it doesn’t get more organic and fresher than this.

These pancetta fried eggs take minutes to prepare since there’s no need to wait for the bacon to crisp up in the pan or microwave, and they’re just as delicious as traditional fried eggs with bacon-with an Italian twist, of course!

If you try this recipe (and love it!) be sure to snap a pic and tag me onInstagram with #bitesforfoodies so I can see your creation!