Pepperoni and Salami are both types of sausage that are most times used interchangeably if you eat sandwiches and pizzas a lot, they both wouldn’t be strange to you. Both pepperoni and salami can be eaten just as they are and they add spicy and rich flavor to dishes.
They are both so similar, but the truth is that there are differences between them. While Salami is referred to as cured sausage that is gotten from air-dried and fermented meat, pepperoni is referred to as an American recipe of salami that is gotten from the mixture of beef and cured pork. You could also differentiate them from their taste by noting that pepperoni seems like a flavor that is smoky and peppery while salami is spiced and very rich.
What this post is about is to help you improve your knowledge about foods and kitchen, thus, we would be discussing deeper on those things you should understand about the pepperoni and salami.
Salami vs Pepperoni
If you want to know deeply how the two sausages differ, you must start from how they are prepared, the types of ingredients used for each of them, and how they are both served. You will agree if you love sandwiches and pizzas that both pepperoni and salami are both used. Salami could be described as being served cold traditionally as an antipasti part. Pepperoni is, however, more American in comparison to salami and it is mostly used as toppings for pizzas.
As earlier stated, pepperoni is a variety of salami and though they taste a bit different, likely, that anybody that enjoys eating salami will as well enjoy eating pepperoni. It might be a bit difficult to know the difference in taste because they both taste similar; spiced and gotten from pork but if you know your sausages very well, you will understand that their flavors are different.
Pepperoni Explained
Remember at the beginning of this article, we said pepperoni is referred to as a variant of salami, precisely considered as a dry type of Italian salami. Pepperoni has its deep taste from the very high ratio of spices which can be used on pizzas which makes it stand out so greatly. Pepperoni is described as an American type of sausage that is most popular in the United States.
Just like salami, you can also make pepperoni from poultry, pork, and beef with spices such as chili pepper and paprika. It has a red bright color, smoky taste, and aroma, and it is a drier variety of salami. Its nutritional value is also the same as that of salami. Pepperoni is mostly put in pizzas with a smoky, high-spice flavor that tastes very different. Have you tried the type of pepperoni; Foustman’s Artisinal before? It is very natural and free of nitrates. You can also buy from Amazon.
Salami Explained
Salami has its origin from Italian culinary as a cured sausage made by peasants who discovered they could ferment the meat that will make it last for up to a year; that’s provided they may not have access to it within that period.
Salami has over the years become very popular and used over the world to top meals including pizzas. Salami is made of chopped beef, veal, pork, and at times of poultry. The shape and flavor are formed by mixing the meat with some other ingredients such as nitrate, garlic, herbs, minced fat, white pepper, vinegar, and salt. Cured sausage is formed by air-drying a fermented mixture of the meat and other ingredients. It should be noted that salami contains high calories of fat with one slice containing about 75 calories. This makes salami preferable to be eaten as lunch. It has high calories in comparison to eating meats like turkey.
There are various salami types which are unique thanks to their specialties and tastes. If you want to get salami, make sure you get the Italian traditional type that is rich and spicy. You can get some good types from Creminelli and some can also be ordered from Amazon at your convenience.
The Key Differences between Pepperoni and Salami
Check below for the major differences between salami and pepperoni;
- Salami is served cold as an air-dried seasoned cured sausage while Pepperoni is a paprika and pepper seasoned sausage. Both could, however, be made from beef or pork.
- Pepperoni is referred to as a variant of salami while salami cannot be termed a variety of pepperoni.
- Pepperoni is more like spicy salami whose variant is in southern Italy from Naples with examples of meats like piccante, and salsiccia Napoletana. Salami meanwhile a type of meat including prosciutto, pepperoni, soppressata, and many others.
- Salami served at once is most times 3-ounces, containing 419 calories that are about 33% of a daily recommendation of a diet of 1500 calories. Pepperoni served at once is usually 3-ounces, containing 540 calories.
- Pepperoni is made majorly by mixing pork and beef while salami can also be made from meats like poultry, pork, and beef.
- Pepperoni is most times not eaten sliced alone as it is served on top of pizzas. Salami can however be served as a meal for lunchtime that is sliced together with some other antipasti.
Which is Better on Pizza?
If you have tasted both salami and pepperoni before, you would most probably prefer one over the other, but you will agree that they both taste great. There really should not be any argument as to which is preferable Pizza. Pepperoni seems more commonly used on pizzas and generally common in the United States considering its peppery taste, but salami also tastes very great on pizzas with its spicy, herb taste.
Where Does Chorizo Fit In?
Chorizo is regarded as a Spanish sausage that is closer in resemblance and appearance to pepperoni and it could also be quite very much like to salami at first glance.
Chorizo is a cured dried sausage made of different spices and could be sliced and served raw. Chorizo has two types you can consider;
- Spanish Chorizo: It contains strongly herbs and garlic and could of different variants including a longer one and a shorter one. Longer type of Spanish chorizo is commonly sweeter than the shorter Spanish chorizos which are spicier.
- Mexican Chorizo: It is usually gotten from beef and can include venison, chicken, and turkey. It is spicier in comparison to Spanish chorizo as it is made of herbs and green chilies. Mexican chorizos are usually used to top pizzas as well and can be commonly used in burritos, tacos, and tortas.
Some Related Important Questions
Where does the name ‘salami’ come from?
The names “salami” originates from Italy just as the cuisine itself. It is gotten from salare that means; “making something salty”. Salami was originally made from air drying a mixture of pork with salt that is protected in casings.
What are the white bits in salami?
Salami contains white bits that are fat and this is what gives it its rich texture and flavor. Salami will not be salami without the fat.
Can salami be halal?
Some versions made from beef could be called kosher or halal but the original traditional salami that is made from pork isn’t halal. The one called halal does not have pork but it can still be halal even if you add some other ingredients like venison, turkey, or chicken.
The Difference Between Salami And Pepperoni
Pepperoni and Salami are both delicious and considered wonderful delicacies across the globe irrespective of whether slices of pepperoni are sprinkled on pizzas or salami slices are eaten raw alone.
If you are eaten them for the first time, they might both look similar but you need to note that there is a huge difference between them which is in the ingredients that is used in making them.
Salami is made up of spiced and rich sausage, pepperoni has more of a flavor that is smoky and peppery; pepperoni is, however more spicy than salami though when you go to southern Italy, most especially Naples, you can relate pepperoni to the spicy salami found there. Pepperoni’s texture is also softer and finer than salami. Salami is more of cured sausage but pepperoni is dry sausage. Salami is an Italian sausage while pepperoni is regarded as Italian-American sausage. Salami has a variety of types which makes it a more versatile ingredient in comparison with pepperoni. Pepperoni is most times used on pizzas, but while salami can be used as pizza toppings, it can also be used much more on other dishes. The differences are basically in their tastes, textures, historical origin, how to enjoy them, and the ingredients they were made from.
They are both delicious and there shouldn’t be any debate as to which is better. It will be quite difficult to reject any of them if they are greatly made. This article is just to help you to most probably justify the differences you have noticed while you are eating them.
