Pepperoni Pizza Near You

What Is Pepperoni Pizza Made Of?

Everybody loves pizza. And in America, everybody definitely loves pepperoni pizza. It's basically the most iconic pizza we have.

Obviously, this pie is made with pepperoni but also cheese and sauce.

So, what exactly is pepperoni? This fantastic topping is an American type of salami that is red, soft, and a bit smokey. It also consists of beef and cured pork that is seasoned with paprika or different chili pepper.

According to certain statistics, pepperoni is actually the most popular pizza ingredient in the United States. And Americans eat a staggering 251.7 million pounds of pepperoni every year. In fact, this topping is on 36% of all pies that are made in the United States.

What’s interesting is that the edges of pepperoni tend to curl up because of the heat of a pizza oven. And some of the best pepperonis for pizza are made in chunkier slices so that the sides curl on purpose.

When Was the Pepperoni Pizza Invented?

First, let's take a look at the name pepperoni. As you may expect, like most pizza-related things, it has something to do with Italy. Indeed, it comes from the Italian term "peperone" which refers to bell pepper.

Moreover, the word peperoncino is Italian for chilly peppers, the spicy ones.

The first time pepperoni was used to denote a sausage was in 1919.

Pepperoni was created with the combined efforts of Italy and America. It was based on salamis found in the southern parts of Italy. These were spicy and included types like the soppressata.

However, the pepperoni isn't as spicy and is typically softer as well.

So, how did pepperoni become a pizza topping? Well, the ingredient first showed up in American-Italian markets after the First World War.

But it wasn’t until the 1950s that pepperoni was first featured as an actual pizza topping. This is according to a photo of a wall menu at a pizzeria named The Spot in New Haven, Connecticut.

The thing is, pepperoni is an ingredient that is very suitable for mass production. This is because it is inexpensive, salty, easy to transport, and could withhold more time.

Plus, pepperoni doesn’t take long to hang. And instead of months, it can be sent to pizzerias within three weeks.

Moreover, in the 1980s, the Ezzo Sausage company in Columbus started to sell pepperoni that was already sliced. This made the ingredient ready to be placed on a pizza.

On that note, Ezzo’s kind of pepperoni was the same as the one we have now. Meaning, it consists of beef, pork, and spices, and it is dried. They have some of the best pepperoni for pizza.

In addition, back in 2008, a pepperoni pizza emoji was created by Ollie Wagner. He said that it was very fun to make. And that the characteristic red spots are very appealing. Indeed, he loves pepperoni and agrees that the iconic pie makes for a delicious slice.

How Many Calories in a Slice of Pepperoni Pizza?

According to nutrition facts, the number of pepperoni pizza calories in a single slice (111g) is around 313. Out of that, the amount of total fat is 13g which is 20% of the daily value for a 2,000-calorie diet. And the saturated fat is 13g or 29% of the daily value.

In addition, there is 28mg of Cholesterol (9%), 760mg of Sodium (32%), and 216mg of Potassium (6%). And the amount of total carbohydrates is 35g or 12% of the daily value. From that, dietary fiber is 2.6g (10%), and sugars are 3.6g. Also, there is 13g of protein.

As for the vitamins and minerals, there is 8.1% of the daily value for Vitamin A. And also 1.7% for Vitamin C, 13% for Calcium, and 16% for Iron.

Where Can I Find Pepperoni Pizza Near Me?

You can find this classic pie all across America. But for those of you looking for specific restaurant recommendations, no worries, we got you covered.

If you're in Boston, we suggest heading to Mama's Place on Huntington Ave. They also offer pickup and delivery, for which you get 5% off when ordering online via Slice!

In case you're in Chicago, then Armand's Pizzeria is the right place for you. Located on N Western Ave they work every day but Monday. And you can order pickup or delivery on Slice, too.