Spring Roll di Foglie di Shiso con Carne Salada e Kimchi

The spring roll di foglie di shiso con carne salada e kimchi is a signature dish at Antica Osteria Magenes in Barate, Italy, as featured on *Where The Foodies Go*. This inventive antipasto merges Italian and East Asian culinary traditions. The dish’s foundation is the shiso leaf, a herb from the mint family with a distinctive, slightly citrusy and basil-like flavor, which replaces the traditional rice paper or wheat wrapper. Inside, the filling combines carne salada—a cured and pressed beef specialty from Trentino, Italy, typically marinated in salt, pepper, and herbs—with kimchi, the spicy, fermented Korean cabbage. The contrast of the tender, savory beef against the tangy, pungent kimchi creates a complex flavor profile. A great version is distinguished by the freshness and integrity of the shiso leaf, which should be pliable yet sturdy enough to hold the filling without tearing, and the balance of textures: the soft meat, the crunchy kimchi, and the herbaceous leaf. Regional variations are rare, as this specific fusion is a modern creation, but similar dishes might substitute other cured meats like bresaola or use different leafy wrappers such as perilla or lettuce. The dish exemplifies the contemporary Italian trend of incorporating global ingredients into local traditions, offering a light, flavorful start to a meal.