For more than 100 years, Graziano Brothers has operated a deli and grocery store in Des Moines, Iowa, where it produces high-quality Italian sausages and Italian pantry staples. Founded by brothers Frank and Louis Graziano, the company offers a variety of handmade meat products, including Italian sausage, salami, prosciutto, and mortadella.
The Italian word salumi refers to hundreds of different types of Italian cured meats, varying in traits such as fat content, casing, seasoning, and curing method. Here are a few of the most common: ‘
1. Prosciutto. Possibly the most famous type of salumi, this dry-cured ham comes from the leg of the pig, and can be bought either cooked or uncooked.
2. Pancetta. This Italian bacon made from pork belly is cured and spiced with black pepper, then usually added to other dishes rather than eaten plain.
3. Mortadella. A cured bologna-style pork product, this type of salumi has a smooth texture and gets its authentic pork flavor from huge cubes of lard throughout. It often has additions such as garlic or pistachios for extra seasoning.
4. Soppressata. Made with various parts of the animal, this coarsely ground sausage typically uses red pepper to give it a bit of spice.
