Many delicious and unique types of meat hail from Italy. It’s not surprising that many people get confused and miss out on pairing them with the right Italian food. Understanding the signature flavors that make each meat special is an essential part of enjoying Italian cuisine and a skill you’ll be able to use every time you try a new dish.

4 Italian Cured Meats

1. Prosciutto

This is one of the most well-known and versatile meats in Italian food. It’s an undercooked ham, and it goes through an extensive curing process. Eat prosciutto with gnocchi, on Italian flatbread, or around scallops. You can also pair it with delicious cheeses and wines. The meat’s salty flavors pair well with fruity wines, like chenin blanc.

2. Coppa

Coppa is a prosciutto-like meat hailing from the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It’s cut from pork shoulder and is massaged with spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg, making it perfect alongside sharp aged cheeses, like caciocavallo or sweet toppings, like honey. Enjoy coppa on a sandwich, cheese platter, or in an antipasto dish.

3. Mortadella

Although this Italian meat is like bologna, it’s far different than the pre-packaged circular slices that most people consume. This ground pork mixture includes chopped pistachios, nutmeg, and pepper, and it’s sliced into paper-thin pieces. It fits well in an antipasto or sandwich and also pairs well with a hoppy beer that has a bold, bitter flavor.

4. Pancetta

This is the Italian version of bacon, and it’s made from pork belly. It’s peppered and hung to cure, and it’s most often used as a salty flavoring in Italian food, like carbonara. It can also be enjoyed thinly sliced with a cheese platter and a fruity sangiovese or baby brunello wine.

If you want to explore delicious Italian meats, head to Il Lupino Trattoria & Wine Bar in Honolulu, HI. This eatery specializes in Italian food and features an extensive salumi selection that features unique cured meats, like speck and bresaola. They also serve authentic dishes, such as bolognese, gnocchi sorrentina, and pescatore. View their dinner menu online, or call (808) 922-3400 to make a reservation.