Although pizza may be considered a classic Italian dish, Pepperoni is a more modern and delicious option. It’s an American topping.
According to a poll by YouGov in February 2019, Pepperoni is now the most loved topping in America. The company surveyed 1,212 pizza-lovers about their favorite pizza toppings. It turns out that most people will eat the meat-lovers pizza. Respondents voted Pepperoni as their favorite pizza topping, with sausage at 34% and mushrooms at 31%. Despite this trend changing in recent years, with some studies showing that people enjoy chicken pizza more than ever, Pepperoni is still a popular topping for pizza, especially in the U.S.
Why Pepperoni?
How did we get to this point? What made us start topping our pizzas with Pepperoni instead of cheese? Experts believe it is due to the American palate and speed of pizza shops.
“Sausage for pizza” existed long before Instagram’s ‘Roni cups. Darren Ezzo of Ezzo Sausage Company explained to Thrillist that this topping was popularized in pizzas around the 1970s. Although the meat topping was similar to modern Pepperoni, it wasn’t dried, which made it easier to create. Italian meats, such as capicola, took several months to prepare. This Pepperoni, however, could be ready for pizza in weeks rather than months.
Who was the first to make pepperoni pizzas?
Ezzo told Thrillist that his family’s business was the first to offer pre-sliced Pepperoni for pizza. Ezzo blend is a spiced mixture of ground pork and ground beef. The company was established in the late 1970s. However, the Ezzo blend has gained greater recognition due to the popularity of the ‘Roni cup, which is sparkling and grease-filled. Ezzo sausage is used in New York restaurants such as Emmy Squared and Emily.
What is Pepperoni?
Anthony Scardino, a chef, known as Professor Pizza in culinary circles, says Pepperoni is an American extrapolation from the Calabrese salami traditions. It is also closely related to soppressata (an Italian dried salami).
Scardino, Chicago’s head chef of Dough Bros, says that “the Americans lowered the spice and increased the sweetness.”
He says Pepperoni is a steamer product, which is different from other aged and cured salamis. A great pepperoni will become charred as it cooks, allowing fat to be rendered and melded with other pizza flavors.
Why is Pepperoni so beloved by Americans?
Scardino claims Americans have much to be proud of regarding their favorite pizza toppings. Scardino likes how the earthiness and fat of the mushrooms counteract the spice and fat in the Pepperoni and how the fat from meat helps to cook and crisp the mushrooms.
He says there are many great meat toppings but few as famous as Pepperoni. “Second to classic cheese pizza, pepperoni stirs up more nostalgia that just about every other pizza topping.”
Because Pepperoni is universally loved, it has remained a staple pizza topping, according to Rick Schaper, owner of Dogtown Pizza, St. Louis, Missouri.
Schaper states, “It has a huge flavor and spice but isn’t too spicy for non-spicy lovers out there.”
What other American pizza traditions are there?
For one, give it the ranch dressing treatment. Chef Anthony Carron is the founder of 800 Degrees Food Kitchen in New York City.
He says, “I don’t believe Italians have ever heard of the ranch. Much less imagined dunking a piece of pizza in it.” It is delicious. Try arguing with a ranch on pizza die-hard one day, and you’ll get nowhere fast.”
You can’t go wrong with Pepperoni, whether you like it plain or with mushrooms. Even though it may look different from what you would find in Europe, American food symbolizes American culture.