Ciccioli are a traditional delicacy, often enjoyed as a side dish or aperitif, and commonly used as a savory topping for polenta, bread, or flatbread. They consist of small pieces of pork fat, obtained by slowly simmering lard. Once the water content has evaporated and the pieces have taken on a golden hue, they are pressed and seasoned with spices such as cinnamon, clove, pepper, or nutmeg. What melts away during this process becomes lard, while the crunchy ciccioli remain - a calorie-dense food that, in rural tradition, was often eaten alongside polenta as a hearty, nourishing meal.