Celebrate National Salami Day Every September 7
Salami lovers rejoice! September 7 is your day: National Salami Day. A day to indulge in all things salami.
Munch on it all on its own, or top some crackers with it. Have it in a sandwich. Enjoy your salami with a glass of robust red wine. Ahhh, now that’s a relaxing snack.
This delicious day began in 2006, created by the Salami Appreciation Society (SAS) of Henrico, Virginia.
You didn’t know salami had its own appreciation society? You’re probably not alone! But then again … why wouldn’t something so delicious have a society?
What is Salami?
We all pretty much know salami when we see it. But what is it really?
This salty, savory meat is a kind of sausage. But not a fresh sausage. Before salami is ready to eat it’s cured, fermented and dried. Italian salamis are typically air-dried, without smoke.
There are many different kinds of salami, many named according to their place of origin. The meat is usually pork or a mixture of pork and beef. Seasonings and the coarseness of the cut vary depending on where it’s made.
The casings around salami are usually animal intestines, often from the same animal as the meat (i.e. – pigs or cows).
Popular salami types include pepperoni, Genoa and chorizo (the Spanish chorizo, not the Mexican chorizo).
Italian peasants (and others in southern Europe) liked this meat product because it’s safe to store uncut salamis at room temperature for up to a year. Even cut they can last a month or more at room temperature.
We don’t know who first made salami, but both the Greeks and the Romans made cured meats. And some kind of fermented sausage has been around for at least 2,000 years, probably longer.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial spiced and cured holiday.
How to Celebrate National Salami Day
Your mission for the day is to eat salami. All kinds of salami, all day.
Here are a few recipes to get your Salami Day started off right:
- For breakfast, try Eggs in Purgatory with Salami: Eggs poached in tomatoey sauce with salami. What a perfect start to the day!
- For lunch, consider Creamy Pasta with Crispy Salami: This variation on pasta carbonara substitutes salami for the bacon. Yum!
- If you prefer a lighter lunch, go with a spiced up salad, a Salami Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella: Simple and filling. Perfect!
- For dinner, add oomph to your burgers with Rachael Ray’s Ultimate Salami Burgers: Top beef and pork burgers with crisped salami, giardiniera relish and marinara.
- Between meals, snack on Salami Crisps: How can you possibly go wrong with crispy salami slices?!
If you’d like to try making your own salami, here’s a salami recipe that looks reasonably easy. No, it’s not a real salami, but it looks like a pretty good approximation.
You might even have a salami party. Make it a potluck and have everybody bring a different dish made with salami.
Have everybody take the Salami Day quiz, What kind of processed meat are you? Apparently I am, in fact, salami. Yay!
For more ideas for celebrating National Salami Day, see the official Salami Day website.
What salami delights will you be making for your celebrations?
