Are you familiar with soppressata? Variations of this traditional Italian salami exist throughout Italy – and the rest of the world! Soppressata has risen to prominence as part of a number of delicious Italian dishes. Like the other great Italian staples, soppressata has a storied history and a number of different interpretations to go with it. Read on to discover everything about soppressata, from how it’s prepared to where it came from!
Soppressata’s Origins
The history of soppressata is told through various Italian texts that have been found over time. There isn’t a concrete year as to when soppressata was made, but the first texts mentioning the popular salami date all the way back to the 1690’s! In a text from 1691, Padre Giovanni Fiore de Cropani detailed their experiments on salted meat. One such experiment seems to have led to the formation of soppressata, but since it’s not directly mentioned, the origins still aren’t concrete!
One thing that is concrete is how many variations that the popular salami has. It’s most prominent in regions of southern Italy, but it also has a claim to fame in the North. The main difference that you’ll find between the two areas is that the northern regions tend to add a lot more spice to the ingredients! The southern regions are a bit more conservative with their spice, but still include dried chili peppers as a part of the recipe.
How Soppressata Is Made
Did you know that red wine is an ingredient used in the soppressata recipe? Believe it or not, this is one of the seasonings that is found in the Italian salami! It adds more depth to the flavour of the recipe while complementing the other seasonings well. In general, soppressata uses a combination of these spices and seasonings:
- Red Wine
- Dried Chili Peppers
- Black Peppercorns
- Some variants also use rosemary, cloves and cinnamon!
Depending on where you look, you’ll find varying levels of spiciness in your soppressata. The cuts of pork use can also vary in their thickness, but generally use intestines as part of the cut. That might sound gross at first, but trust us when we say it only adds positive things to the flavour! Shoulder, ham, and even tongue are among the most used cuts of pork in soppressata. When these ingredients are blended and cooked, the result is superb!
Enjoy Italian Cuisine at Quattro
At Quattro, you can enjoy all the soppressata you could ask for as a part of our selection of brick oven pizzas. Not feeling pizza? We carry a wide variety of delicious Italian staples that go perfectly with our luxurious selection of wine and cocktails. Located in Boston’s North End, Quattro brings the heart of Italian cuisine to life with its fantastic dishes and exceptional staff. To experience it for yourself, click here to make a reservation or get takeout using UberEats!