Carne cruda all'albeseChopped raw beef with lemon
In the trattorie of Alba and the Langhe hills in Piedmont, carne cruda is the first course on almost every menu: lean veal or beef from the local Fassone breed, chopped by hand with a knife into tiny pieces and dressed simply with olive oil, lemon, garlic, salt and pepper. In autumn it arrives with white truffle shaved over the top. The traditional dish is raw, which is not for pregnant women, young children or anyone with a weakened immune system. Our safer version sears the whole piece of meat on the outside before chopping, which kills the bacteria on the surface where they live, and is the way to make it if anyone is unsure. Chef's tip: chop with a cold, very sharp knife on a chilled board; a mincer squashes the meat and turns it pasty, while a knife keeps it tender and bright.
























