Pepperoni

Pepperoni is an American variety of dry-cured sausage made from a seasoned mixture of pork and beef and typically colored a deep red by paprika or other ground chili peppers, giving it its name, derived from the Italian word peperone for bell or chili pepper. It is softer and more finely ground than many other salami-style sausages, and its high fat content causes it to curl and crisp at the edges when heated. Pepperoni is best known internationally as the most popular pizza topping in the United States, though it is also sliced and eaten cold as a snack or sandwich meat.