8 Meats You Shouldn’t Ignore At The Deli But Order In Your Next Sandwich
When was the last time you switched up your sandwich order? Most of us stick to the same old ham or turkey without exploring all the tasty options behind the deli counter.
There’s a whole world of delicious meats waiting to transform your lunch from boring to extraordinary. Ready to take your sandwich game to new heights?
Here are eight underappreciated deli meats you should try on your next sandwich.
1. Mortadella: Italy’s Fancy Bologna
Forget everything you think you know about bologna! Mortadella is its sophisticated Italian cousin, studded with pistachios and peppercorns that add unexpected pops of flavor and texture.
Sliced paper-thin, this pink meat creates a buttery foundation for any sandwich. Try it with provolone and roasted red peppers on ciabatta for an instant upgrade to your lunch routine.
2. Pastrami: The Smoky Showstopper
Criminally overlooked by turkey loyalists, pastrami brings a symphony of flavors with its peppery crust and smoky profile. The meat’s edges, encrusted with spices, deliver a flavor punch that plain meats simply can’t match.
Warm it slightly before piling high on rye bread with mustard. The fat marbling melts just enough to create sandwich magic that’ll make you question your basic lunch choices.
3. Capicola: The Spicy Italian Gem
My Italian grandmother would slap my hand away from the capicola when I was a kid, saving it for special occasions. Now I understand why – this cured pork shoulder is sandwich royalty.
Delicately marbled and often spiced with red pepper, capicola delivers a slow-building heat that wakes up your taste buds.
Layer it with fresh mozzarella and basil for a sandwich that’ll transport you straight to Southern Italy.
4. Liverwurst: The Misunderstood Classic
Hear me out before you wrinkle your nose! Liverwurst offers a velvety texture and rich, savory depth that processed meats can only dream of achieving.
Spread on hearty bread with sweet pickles and onions, this German specialty creates a perfect balance of flavors.
The creamy texture contrasts beautifully with crunchy toppings, making for a surprisingly sophisticated sandwich experience.
5. Country Ham: Southern Sophistication
Last Christmas, I watched my Southern uncle thinly slice a country ham he’d been curing for months. One taste of that intensely flavored meat changed my sandwich standards forever.
Salt-cured and often aged for months, country ham delivers a profound depth that makes regular ham taste like an afterthought.
Pair with a touch of honey butter on a biscuit for a simple yet transformative sandwich experience that honors its Southern roots.
6. Tongue: The Buttery Revelation
Brave eaters are rewarded with one of the deli counters’ best-kept secrets. Properly prepared beef tongue offers a buttery texture and rich flavor that rivals premium cuts.
Traditionally found in Jewish and Mexican delis, tongue creates sandwiches with an almost melt-in-your-mouth quality.
Try it warm with spicy mustard on fresh rye bread, and you might just find yourself wondering why you waited so long to try this delicacy.
7. Roast Pork: The Juicy Alternative
Turkey and chicken breast fans, prepare for a revelation! Roast pork delivers the lean protein you crave but with a juiciness that poultry simply can’t match. Seasoned with herbs and roasted to perfection, this underrated option shines with sharp provolone and garlicky broccoli rabe.
Philadelphia’s famous roast pork sandwiches prove this meat deserves the spotlight, offering a welcome change from predictable sandwich routines.
8. Prosciutto di Parma: Worth Every Penny
Sure, it’s pricier than standard ham, but there’s a reason this paper-thin Italian delicacy has endured for centuries. Aged for at least a year, prosciutto develops a complexity that makes even a simple sandwich extraordinary.
I still remember my first taste in a tiny Italian deli – the way it practically dissolved on my tongue. Pair with nothing more than fresh mozzarella and basil on crusty bread for a sandwich that proves sometimes simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.