If you’re familiar with Italian deli meats and cured meat products, then there’s a good chance you have come across slender Italian sausages that look strikingly like salami, called salametti. These Italian sausages are cured and dried in a process similar to producing salami.
However, they are much smaller in size and have a slightly chewy texture. They can be used in cooking in several different ways. Or you can even snack on slices of salametti or add them to sauces, pasta, and sandwiches. Also, it is often used on pizza as a pepperoni substitute.
The flavor of this Italian sausage depends on the filling and spices used to make it. It can be mild in some cases, while some types can be deliciously spicy. The main difference between traditional salami and salametti is mainly the size.
Salametti can be much easier to eat for people who prefer smaller portions and find finishing and storing a whole salami tiresome. It is also an excellent option for picnics and trips and can be packed easily with its protective casing to be enjoyed later.
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Different Types of Salametti
There are two basic types of salametti: coarse ground and fine ground. When the pork meat in the sausage is ground finely with the beef and other spices, the result is a soft and pliable mixture that can be used to make uniform fine ground salametti.
If the pork meat and beef are not ground properly, and small chunks of meat and spices remain in the mix, the sausage made from this mixture will have a rougher texture.
Both types of salametti have the same basic type of spices: salt, garlic, and black pepper. For further flavor, more ingredients and spices can be added to the mix to make salametti spicier or more aromatic.
Salametti – History and Background
The history of salametti can be traced back to the 16th century. At the time of its creation, salami was mostly made with pork meat.
Beef salametti that contains no traces of pork is a relatively newer type that can also be Halal. Nowadays, it can be used as a substitute for pepperoni since it has a similar flavor and texture to it.
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What Does Salametti Taste Like?
Salametti has a taste that is similar to salami but typically with a chewier texture which changes its mouthfeel a bit.
Salametti is much smaller than traditional salami but is cured for almost the same period as salami. This results in this Italian sausage developing a chewier texture than salami.
Since it is smaller, the slices are smaller and that means the casing has a larger proportion to the inside when compared to a larger salami.
And because the casing/edges are chewier, that means that the smaller pieces are chewier compared to a typical salami slice which has a larger surface area.You can easily eat it by itself, like salami, and pair it with your favorite Italian wine and cheese.
How Do You Make Salametti?
Traditionally, salametti is made with raw pork meat mixed with beef. The raw pork meat is ground meticulously until the desired texture is achieved, and beef is added to the mix to be ground with it.
The basic seasonings a salumiere may use are garlic, salt, and black peppercorns to the meat to give it a rich, meaty, slightly spicy flavor. To give it a unique flavor, people can add additional spices, fennel, or other ingredients to the mix before the curing process.
Once the meat mix for the salametti is ready, it is stuffed into a natural casing of about an inch. It is left to dry and ferment for at least two months before consumption. Drying the meat can take about two months or longer, depending on the ingredients added to the meat mix. Once it has finished drying for two months, it can be served to customers or used in various dishes and sandwiches.
If you see whole salametti or try slices of it in an Italian deli, you might be able to see a whitish crust on its outside. This whitish crust indicates that the salametti has been cured properly and can be enjoyed without worries of spoilage. It only becomes perishable once it has been sliced open.
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Popular Salametti Dishes You Can Try at Home
Pizza
Salametti pizza can be made with your favorite toppings, but it is important to note that the flavor of salametti is enhanced by spinach and tomato-based pizza sauce. To make a salametti pizza, you need to spread a layer of pizza sauce on some rolled-out pizza dough, add some of your favorite mozzarella cheese, and place spinach leaves on top. You can add salametti slices on top of the spinach and add some slices of onions and red bell peppers for extra flavor.
Pasta Salad
In the summer, a light pasta salad with fresh veggies is just the thing you need to refresh your mind and body. After sauteing some onion and garlic over high heat for a few minutes, add some red pepper, broccoli, zucchini, and red wine to the mix to cook for a few minutes. Mix it with salametti and some tomatoes, season to taste, and transfer all veggies into a large bowl. Mix the veggies with some al dente pasta and drizzle some dressing and olive oil for a final touch. After seasoning the pasta salad, you can enjoy it with your favorite red wine and finish the meal with an Italian dessert.
Sandwich
To make a simple yet quick salametti sandwich, roast some red bell peppers until they are soft to your preference. Slice a ciabatta bun in half, spread a layer of creamy hummus, and lay down the roasted bell peppers with a slice of Monterey Jack cheese. Place slices of salametti in the sandwich with some lettuce and enjoy the sandwich as a quick snack or lunch.
Mastro Salametti and Mozzarella Grilled Sandwich
Learn how to make one of Marc’s favorite Italian sandwiches in this video. Sometimes simple doesn’t necessarily mean less tasty!
Salametti – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is salametti salami?
Salametti salami is a type of Italian sausage with a robust and savory flavor due to a great blend of aromantic and sweet spices.
What kind of meat is in salametti?
It is a type of cured sausage commonly made with pork and beef and has several ground and bold spices. There are various ways to prepare salametti, but all products you come across may have cubes or flecks of fat in them.
Is salametti spicy?
Salametti is a cured Italian sausage that is commonly made with pork, beef, and spices. Depending on the seasoning and filling, it can be spicy or mild but will always have a dry and chewy texture.
Summary
If you are a fan of salami, there is no doubt that you will also love its smaller and slightly chewier version: salametti. It can make for an excellent, light snack and can be paired with various Italian wines and cheeses.
The spice level of the Italian sausage can be according to your preference since this type of salami is available in mild and spicy flavors. Try some salametti on your next trip to the Italian deli and sample some to see if you like the sweet, meaty, and chewy taste.
To learn more about Italian deli meats and sausages, click on any of the links below.
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My name is Jay and I started this website to share my love of Deli Food. I am Jewish with Italian ancestry and grandparents who emigrated to the US from Poland, Russia and Turkey. This website is my celebration of the delicious flavors of international deli culture. Please feel free to send me your suggestions and feedback through the contact form.
