So, perhaps the best suggestion is to forget about pepperoni altogether and try the local offerings, of which, in the case of salumi (and salame!) So, for those traveling to Italy who want to sample an authentic Italian version of the American relative pepperoni, depending on where you are, you should ask for salame or salamino piccante, or salsiccia piccante (spicy salame or dried sausage), characteristic mostly of the South. Pepperoni is borrowed from the word peperoni, the plural of peperone, which is Italian for bell pepper. Traditionally, pepperoni is usually made from cured pork and beef mixed together. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our. Paprika is primarily responsible for the color and heat of most pepperoni. My favorite part is the curled up little slices of pepperoni which are like little crisp cups of grease. Salami (/ s ə ˈ l ɑː m i / sə-LAH-mee) is a cured sausage consisting of fermented and air-dried meat, typically pork.Historically, salami was popular among Southern, Eastern, and Central European peasants because it can be stored at room temperature for up to 40 days once cut, supplementing a potentially meager or inconsistent supply of fresh meat. Now let’s cut to the chase and see what the most popular pizza varieties in the Italian restaurants are. If you think the pepperoni you order on pizza or on an antipasto plate in a pizzeria or a seemingly Italian (generally more likely Italian-American) restaurant in the States sounds Italian, it does indeed. In Italy pepperoni is called salame piccante. The spicy variety of dry salami (American spelling) usually made of pork and beef and ubiquitous on American pizza is, in fact, an Italian-American creation, birthed in the States, whose name derives from the Italian word peperone, which means "pepper": the green or red pendulous vegetable grown the world over whose many varieties are spicy. Pepperoni pizzas are cheese pizzas with pepperoni on top or underneath the cheese. Sandwich-sized calzones are often sold at Italian lunch counters or by street vendors, because they are easy to eat while standing up or walking. They go by many names. [10], In the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, deep fried pepperoni served on its own (usually with a honey mustard dipping sauce) is common pub food.[11][12]. What Is Pepperoni Made Of? In Italian, the word “peperoni” actually means large peppers, like bell pepper. How the American word pepperoni came to mean the semi-sausage, semi-salami food, no one really knows. Pepperoni stands in a crowd of foods that in the States are considered Italian but whose name, derivation, and very nature have been adulterated by distance, time, and the American palate. Pepperoni is characteristically soft, slightly smoky, and … The most common variation is peperoncini (one less p), but the Italians also call it friggitello or a common general pepper name: peperone (not to be confused with the sausage pepperoni). Peperoncino, whether fresh or dried and ground, is the small hot kind. Why Do Italians Consider Friday the 17th Unlucky? Italian words for ham include prosciutto, coscia and istrione. Pepperoni comes down to being a fine-grained, smokey, air-dried salami. [5] Turkey meat is also commonly used as a substitute, but the use of poultry in pepperoni must be appropriately labeled in the United States. People in Italy don’t know what a pepperoni pizza is so if you want a pepperoni pizza style you have to ask for “pizza alla diavola”. According to John Mariana, a food writer and historian, there is no Italian salami called Peperoni. How the American word pepperoni came to mean the semi-sausage, semi-salami food, no one really knows. Pepperoni is borrowed from the word peperoni, the plural of peperone, which is Italian for bell pepper. Pepperoni is spicy salami. Over 100,000 Italian translations of English words and phrases. Pepperoni made of only beef is called beef pepperoni. The first use of "pepperoni" to refer to a sausage dates to 1919. We were just as surprised. What are some others? Pepperoni is a spicy Italian-American variety of dry salami usually made of pork and beef, and is frequently used as a pizza topping in … Lots of pepperoni & mozzarella. Spices are also on the center stage of the Italian Meats performance. Italian names of pizza: Top 50 most popular. The Italian word is pepperoncini and I think someone didn’t know whether the word referred to the peppers or the sausage and thus called it pepperoni. It turns out that the word “peperoni” means bell pepper in Italian. Italian-Americans sold and popularized the pizzas, and the exotic dish picked up the English name “tomato pie”. The term "pepperoni" is a borrowing of peperoni, the plural of peperone, the Italian word for bell pepper. How to Order Pizza at the "Pizza al Taglio" Shop in Italy, How to Conjugate the Verb 'Stare' in Italian, 8 Places to Visit in Italy if You Want to Practice Italian, M.A., Italian Studies, Middlebury College. Pepperoni is a type of Italian salami. In some versions, Italian pizza is served entirely without sauce, called bianca, and is instead lightly doused with olive oil. The name is originated from the word pepperoni which is an Italian word for chime pepper. What is salami, you ask? According to John Mariana, a food writer and historian, there is no Italian salami called Peperoni. The name is an Italian-American variant on the original Italian word for spicy peppers, peperoni. Made from pork shoulder butt that is brine soaked then cooked, Capicola is seasoned with hot pepper flakes, salt and garlic. But as they rebuilt their lives in their new country, their mostly Southern dialects mixed and merged and morphed into a hybrid, and the original Italian word peperone became "pepperoni," different in spelling and pronunciation from the word that inspired it. “Peperoni” is actually the Italian word for large peppers, as in bell peppers, and there is no Italian salami called by that name, though some salamis from Calabria and Apulia are similarly spicy and flushed red with dried chilies. Possibly the closest thing to pepperoni in Italy is soppressata, which is a cured dry sausage. Pepperoni is made from pork or from a mixture of pork and beef. See more. Pepperoni is spicy salami. During this time, they mingled most of their traditional flavors to the American ones. It’s derived from traditional Italian spicy salami or sausage, and is today very well known as its own food item. A cooked pizza with pepperoni showing distinct curling. Pepperoni made of only beef is called beef pepperoni. List of pizza chains of the United States, "Salumi tipici italiani: Salsiccia - Salsiccia Napoletano - Salsiccia Siena - Salsiccia Toscana", "A Recipe to Make Authentic Homemade Pepperoni", "United Tastes - Pepperoni Rolls, a Piece of West Virginia Culinary History: Fast Food Even Before Fast Food", "You Must Try: Delicious Deep Fried Pepperoni in Halifax, Nova Scotia", "Microbiology and Technology of the Pepperoni Process", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pepperoni&oldid=998407488, Articles with dead external links from May 2020, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pending changes protected pages, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 5 January 2021, at 06:47. It`s usually known as “pizza alla diavola” (which can literally be translated as `devil style pizza` due to the spiciness of the salami used). Salami is a fermented, cured sausage, so it's quite different from ham. There is also a pepper called pepperoncini that is pickled and also used on American pizza. Pepperoni Pizza. Not to take anything away from pepperoni pizza, which I indulge in from time to time, but if you want a taste of Italy, you would want to look further. [1], Pepperoni is characteristically soft, slightly smoky, and bright red in color. The Italian word is pepperoncini and I think someone didn’t know whether the word referred to the peppers or the sausage and thus called it pepperoni. The kids have pepperoni and eggs every morning, so teaming up with the American Egg Board to share a few of our family’s favorite recipes was a perfect fit. When I was growing up in Pennsylvania, there was a little Italian breakfast restaurant called Danny’s. Il Giardino Della Nonna - Bilbao, Bilbo The toppings may be one of the most surprising properties that sets authentic Italian pizza apart from its recreations and mimics. Pepperoni is everything but Italian. Like many Italian Meats, it has a marbled appearance and a rich, bold flavor. This is one major difference that a pepperoni is made with a higher ratio of spices and, this is the reason, it gets to be very spicy and makes a desirable topping for pizzas. For the authentic Italian sausages that inspired it, take a look at soppressata, from Apulia, Basilicata and Calabria; and salsiccia Napoletana piccante, from Naples. Pepperoni is mass-produced to meet the demand for the sausage. While the name “pepperoni” is borrowed from the Italian word for bell peppers, pepperoni is a purely American invention that emerged at immigrant-owned butcher shops in … Origin Unknown c:1912. While there are a number of spicy, dry sausages from different regions of Italy, there is no such thing as pepperoni. In Italian, what Americans call “pepperoni” is referred to as Salami. The first and probably most important … Italian escarole and beans are a delicious inexpensive staple in the depression days and were eaten often in Italy and considered peasant food. The first use of "pepperoni" to refer to a sausage dates to 1919. The meal is economical and easy to make using simple greens and cooked beans then poured over stale bread, A healthy meal many grew up on in the 1940s era and still to date for many Italian households. The following is the list of pizza names with their traditional toppings that you’ll find in most Italian restaurants in the boot-shaped country. So stop asking any more questions about what is salami. Italian Translation of “pepperoni” | The official Collins English-Italian Dictionary online. Possibly the closest thing to pepperoni in Italy is soppressata, which is a cured dry sausage. You will not be disappointed. It’s probably best to accept that the word comes from the Italian migrants and somehow loosely relates to red peppers. Pepperoni is soft, smoky, and bright red in color. There is no "gravy" for spaghetti; it is called sugo or salsa (and it does not have to cook for three days); the proper name for what in the States is called capicola or gabagool (à la Tony Soprano) is capocollo (in Tuscany, or coppa in Northern Italy); salami is salame; the closest thing to American bologna (the name of the city, Bologna) is mortadella (there is no bologna). What is Pepperoni? See more. What Does Pepperoni Look Like? Chicken parmigiana...you will be hard-pressed to find it in Italy. The American classic (that I had always assumed was an Italian classic!) Italy has been the worldwide pioneer in the techniques of … It is being referred to as the dry variety of highly spiced Italian salami. Despite the age, however, commercialism tried to tarnish its reputation—as it always happens. The term "pepperoni" is a borrowing of peperoni, the plural of peperone, the Italian word for bell pepper. The Italian sandwich, sometimes referred to as the Maine Italian sandwich, is an American submarine sandwich in Italian-American cuisine prepared on a long bread roll or bun with meats, cheese and various vegetables. Pepperoni is actually not an Italian creation. And variations in between. Salami is a fermented, cured sausage, so it's quite different from ham. It's basically just sopressata salami that is even spicier and more thoroughly dried. Pepperoni is everything but Italian. Here in Italy, we do have pizza topped with hot salami but it is not called “pepperoni pizza” at all. Pepperoni has similarities with the salami of southern Italy like salsiccia Napoletana Picante which is a spicy dry sausage of Naples. Pepperoni is an American variety of salami, made from cured pork and beef seasoned with paprika or other chili pepper. In America salami has been reduced to pre-sliced waxy discs on sandwiches and pizza that barely resembles their namesake. The Romans were known to have pioneered the process to preserve their meats for long in the absence of refrigeration techniques. In the early 1900s, pepperoni made its appearance as a topping for pizza in Italian delis. [4] The main differences are that pepperoni has a finer grain (akin to spiceless salami from Milan), is usually softer, and is usually produced with the use of an artificial casing. This delicious topping is an Italian-American twist on salami that was first developed by immigrants in the early 20th century. The best thing about salami is that it doesn’t need an occasion—it creates one. Pepperoni originally came from Italy where it was a type of salami made from fermented pork. And there isn’t a type of salami in Italy that is called pepperoni. Seasoned, hard sausage of beef or pork probably most important … Italian Translation of “ pepperoni ” cured... Always happens and ground, is pepperoni and eggs a fermented, cured sausage, and instead... 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