Building a Ballotine

A ballotine is a classic technique where ingredients are rolled tightly into a neat cylinder, often wrapped in an outer layer to hold the shape. In this episode, charred gem lettuce was combined with anchovy, parmesan and Parma ham, then rolled into a ballotine wrapped in Parma ham slices. The technique requires the filling ingredients to be prepared in advance and cooled enough to handle. The roll must be tight and even — loose ballotines fall apart when sliced. Cling film is typically used to shape and compress the roll before chilling it to set firmly. When sliced, a well-made ballotine reveals clean, defined layers.