The Prospects of Pepperoni: Pushing Previous the Pizza Pie

• Pepperoni is likely one of the most versatile elements within the pizzeria kitchen. You simply need to assume exterior the pizza field.
• Think about crispy, crumbled pepperoni on high of a creamy potato soup or cubed spicy pepperoni in a cup of home made minestrone.

Recipe: Cup’n Char Pepperoni and Peppadews Pizza from Smithfield

Acclaimed pizza chef Lee Hunzinger didn’t a lot look after pepperoni when he was rising up. “I didn’t like how the grease ran all around the pie,” admits Hunzinger, PMQ’s June-July 2016 cowl star and former supervisor and pizzaiolo at Cane Rosso in Fairview, Texas. However pepperoni has modified over time, with Instagram-worthy cups of meat nirvana, super-spicy disks of fireside that cater to a rising heat-loving society, and pure varieties geared towards extra health-conscious pizza lovers.

As soon as Hunzinger found cup-and-char pepperoni, he was bought. “It retains the grease from operating throughout,” he says. “The flavour is so good, and it crisps up like bacon.”

At this time’s distributors supply upwards of 10 to twenty forms of pepperoni and might custom-create a pepperoni to your pizza. Relying in your type of pizza, you may order a range that’s pure, delicate, spicy, thick- or thin-sliced, or not sliced in any respect. “These days, whenever you’re ordering pepperoni out of your salesperson, you may select the thickness of the lower, which I believe has lots to do with the cupping,” Hunzinger notes. “Clearly, the thicker the cuts, the much less pepperoni you’ll get, however the cuppage will probably be higher than these which can be lower skinny.”

And, Hunzinger provides, if cupping is what you’re searching for, measurement issues. “The small pepperonis cup faster as a result of it’s a smaller space to create that dimple. It typically begins cupping up after one and a half or two minutes. Typically, if I’m placing it on a New York-style pie that’s baking for 5 minutes, I’ll let some pepperoni cook dinner on there the entire time. Then I’ll fill within the gaps over the last two minutes with extra pepperoni so you’ve some crispier than others.”

With increasing pepperoni varieties, the door is left huge open for creating some unbelievable appetizers, salads, sandwiches and extra—all utilizing what you have already got available. As America’s favourite topping, you already know that your company love pepperoni, so let’s check out another methods you may put it to use in your pizzeria.

Recipe: Crispy Pepperoni and Egg Breakfast Pizza by Margherita

Appetizers
For an upcharge, supply pepperoni as an addition to your appetizers, like potato skins, artichoke dip, breadsticks, nachos, garlic knots or cheese plates. Or create a enjoyable pizza dip utilizing your sauce, pepperoni, ricotta and cream cheese to serve with breadsticks. We’ve additionally seen giant risotto balls filled with pepperoni and mozzarella, rolled in breadcrumbs and deep-fried to create pepperoni arancini. At Cane Rosso, Hunzinger appreciated so as to add pepperoni to his tacky garlic bread.

Salads
Inexperienced salads get somewhat kick from sliced or cubed pepperoni, as do chilly pasta salads, which make nice sides or full lunch entrées. At Nima’s Pizza & Extra in Gassville, Arkansas, homeowners Rick and Jane Mines supply prospects their alternative of two meats on the pizzeria’s Chef Salad.

Soups
Do you serve soup at your pizzeria? Think about crispy, crumbled pepperoni on high of a creamy potato soup or cubed spicy pepperoni in a cup of home made minestrone. Pepperoni lovers gained’t argue with the choice to get pleasure from their favourite topping in additional locations throughout your menu.

Sandwiches
Italian deli sandwiches simply aren’t the identical with out some spicy pepperoni, and a heat stromboli or calzone filled with pepperoni is at all times a fan favourite. At Nima’s, the Mines stuff heated marinara sauce and pepperoni right into a pocket grinder roll, smother it in mozzarella, and bake it to create the Scorching Pepperoni Sub.

Along with its standard crumbled pepperoni on pizzas, Arni’s Restaurant, a well-liked Midwest chain, presents a Scorching Sicilian Stromboli with baked ham, spiced ham, salami, pepperoni, bacon and all of the fixings.

Different prospects: a grown-up grilled cheese with pepperoni, a pizza burger with mozzarella and pepperoni, or perhaps a twist on Mexican fare with a pizza quesadilla.

Pasta
Take scorching pasta dishes to the following degree by including cubed, sliced or crisped pepperoni. What about including pepperoni to your Spaghetti and Meatballs, Rooster Parmesan, or Mac and Cheese recipes? Additionally attempt including sliced or cubed pepperoni to different scorching pasta dishes, corresponding to Rooster Alfredo.

Condiments
Feeling wildly artistic? Whereas some cooks make bacon jam, whips up a pepperoni and soppressata jam, which he makes use of on pizza. “The Girl Marmalade pizza is a New York white pie topped with mozzarella, ricotta and the pepperoni-soppressata jam,” he says. We’ve had it. Belief us. It’s superb!

Desserts
Pepperoni for dessert? We’re not kidding! Strive a savory pizza cake or cupcake adorned with mini-pepperonis. The combination of salty and barely candy is fairly superb.

For those who’re prepared to begin experimenting, simply check out your menu and add pepperoni to one thing that doesn’t have already got it. Characteristic the dish as a particular throughout one among your gradual nights and see what transpires!

Liz Barrett, PMQ’s former editor at giant, is the writer of Pizza: A Slice of American Historical past. This text has been up to date from the unique model showing within the Could 2017 concern of PMQ.