Pepperoni

Traditional American pepperoni is a dry sausage that is smoked and air dried, although sometimes it can also be cooked. It is made from pork, beef, or a combination of both, usually 30% beef and 70% pork. The sausage is typically soft, with a slightly smoky flavor and a bright red color due to paprika and cayenne pepper.

It is often seasoned with peppers, fennel, garlic, or mustard seeds. Its fast-fermented, thinly sliced variety often ends up as a pizza topping in numerous American-style pizza establishments. In fact, it is the most popular topping in America, served on more than 35% of all pizza orders.

It can commonly be found in American deli counters in supermarkets, and it is also used in the preparation of some varieties of submarine sandwiches.