Pepperoni
Pepperoni is a spicy, smoky American-style cured sausage made from beef and pork, most famous as a pizza topping but also used in sandwiches and snacks.
How to buy
Look for sticks or pre-sliced packages with a firm, slightly tacky casing and even red color flecked with white fat; avoid packages with excess moisture or a slimy film. Natural-casing pepperoni crisps and 'cups' more dramatically when baked than skinless varieties.
How to store
Unopened pepperoni sticks keep in the fridge for weeks past the sell-by date; once opened or sliced, use within one to two weeks. It freezes well for a few months, and whole sticks keep longer than pre-sliced.
Culinary profile
- Flavor
- Spicy, smoky, and tangy from its paprika and fennel seasoning and a touch of fermentation; the fat renders out during baking, basting whatever it tops in a rich, spicy oil.
- Texture
- Firm and slightly chewy raw, crisping at the edges and curling into little cups when baked at high heat; thinner slices crisp more readily than thick-cut.
- Aroma
- A sharp, smoky, peppery smell from paprika and black pepper, with a faint tang from curing.
How to prepare
- Sliced thin for pizza — Cut into rounds that curl and crisp in a hot oven.
- Diced — Cut into small cubes for folding into pasta or egg dishes.
- Crisped into cups — Baked until it forms crunchy, bowl-shaped cups, popular as a low-carb snack.
- Sliced for sandwiches — Layered thin onto subs and sandwiches.
Classic dishes
American
- Pepperoni pizza — The classic pizza topping, sliced and baked until the edges crisp.
- Pepperoni rolls — A West Virginia specialty of pepperoni baked inside soft bread dough.
- Pepperoni bread — Yeasted bread rolled with pepperoni and cheese, sliced and served warm.
- Pepperoni cups — Slices baked until crisp and curled into a cup, used as a low-carb chip.
- Pepperoni sub — Thin-sliced pepperoni layered on a sub roll with provolone and peppers.
- Pepperoni and egg scramble — Diced pepperoni fried and folded into scrambled eggs.
- Pepperoni pizza dip — Pepperoni stirred into a baked, cheesy dip served with bread or chips.
- Pepperoni mac and cheese — Diced pepperoni mixed into baked mac and cheese for spice and smokiness.
- Pepperoni breadsticks — Pizza dough rolled with pepperoni and cheese into breadsticks, baked and served with dipping sauce.
- Pepperoni pizza salad — A cold pasta or lettuce salad tossed with diced pepperoni, cheese, and Italian dressing, a Midwest potluck staple.
Italian
- Pepperoni stromboli — Pepperoni and cheese rolled into pizza dough and baked until golden.
- Pepperoni calzone — A folded pizza dough pocket filled with pepperoni, cheese, and sauce.
- Pepperoni pasta bake — Diced pepperoni baked into pasta with tomato sauce and melted cheese.
- Pepperoni flatbread — Pepperoni and cheese baked on a thin, crisp flatbread crust.
- Pepperoni antipasto platter — Sliced pepperoni served alongside cheese, olives, and cured meats.