Sicilian Pistachio and Lemon Salami

[cutplug]

Looks great, glad the recipe worked out for you!

 

[indaswamp]

Looks great, glad the recipe worked out for you!

Thank you again for posting the recipe! This is a great salami!

 

[cutplug]

You did a beautiful job!

 

[indaswamp]

One salami has reached right at 35% weight loss. Just cut some to taste....WOW! Flavor explosion! nutty notes are really starting to develop... the pistachio has really come forward and balances the lemon perfectly! The umami has deepened...so complex, yet light flavor. I am truly blown away at how good this one turned out! The mold definitely raised the pH slightly which consumed some of the lactic acid..the citric acid really shines through! I'm gonna let it dry some more and let the flavor develop more but so far I am really impressed!
@LoydB and @SCBBQ ...I hope your salami turns out as good as mine did.

 

[tbern]

Sounds delicious! Great it's developing good for you!

 

[indaswamp]

Well, final results are in today...the pistachio and lemon salami reached 35% today so I pulled all but one (still at 32%) and cut into chunks to vacseal.

I checked the pH out of curiosity....it had risen to 5.08 from 4.83 so the mold and D.Hanseii yeast were very active with flavor creation and released a lot of ammonia to raise the pH 0.25 points. This is why there is no lactic acid tang in this salami, even though the pH fell to the 4.8 range....it was from the citric acid in the lemon zest.

Very balanced with a slight citric acid bite that really makes the lemon flavor pop. The pistachio flavor has really intensified and the total is a very balanced salami. I like it a lot!

 

[tbern]

Another winner for you! Looks really good!

 

[TNJAKE]

Looks bomb Keith

 

[indaswamp]

Another winner for you! Looks really good!

Thanks tbern! It is really good!

Looks bomb Keith

Thanks Jake! I think I've finally arrived at the zen of salami making! And I am having so much fun tackling the challenge!!

 

[Dave in AZ]

This sounds like a great salami. I never would think of pistachio and lemon! Thx for the great posts and pictures. I love your scientific approach, especially regarding sugar calculations.

 

[indaswamp]

This sounds like a great salami. I never would think of pistachio and lemon! Thx for the great posts and pictures. I love your scientific approach, especially regarding sugar calculations.

Thanks Dave! This salami is a Sicilian classic. And this recipe is perfect! Regarding the scientific approach-well, I did study engineering and have a very strong scientific background. That came in handy when I build my new maturing chamber....

 

[Sven Svensson]

That’s beyond impressive. Great description and pictures. I can taste the tang.

 

[indaswamp]

That’s beyond impressive. Great description and pictures. I can taste the tang.

Thanks Sven!

 

[indaswamp]

I went ahead and rechecked the pH now that my pH meter temp. probe problem has been sorted out. This is @35% weight loss and finished drying...

 

[Dave in AZ]

That was quick! How is it?

 

[indaswamp]

That was quick! How is it?

This salami is awesome! Very well balanced. The new accelerated drying schedule I am using has my salami finishing 7-10 days sooner....

 

[LoydB]

Damn that looks great. Still waiting on mine, it's at about 25% now.

 

[Schwarzwald Metzger]

I am using the recipe from Olympic Provisions for this classic Sicilian Salami. I made this for the first time back in Jan. 2021. It was a big hit on the board and I have been wanting to make it again. Caught a pork butt sale so here we go! I also picked up a 4# chunk of loin and 2.5# of tenderloins. Ended up with 6.25Kg. of lean for the salami.
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I went shopping for the pistachios and fresh lemons. Stopped by the butcher shop and bought 3kg. of Berkshire pork back fat for the salami. All the trim and fat from the commodity pork will be used in smoke sausages.

Spices, Salt, cure #2, lemon zest in white wine, and pistachios ready to go...along with mold 600 I mixed up last night. I wait to mix up the starter culture right before grinding. I am using SM-194 culture.
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I ground the lean through a 12mm plate...
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then took 20% of that and mixed it in with the cubed back fat.
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Ran that through an 8mm plate. the meat helps to keep the fat separated and gives the auger more grab to force the fat through the grinder plate without the fat slipping to preserve the fat integrity.
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I mixed in the wine, lemon zest and the SM-194 culture then checked the pH. It was in the 5.9 range. Then I did some figuring for the amount of dextrose and sucrose I needed for fermentation. From experience, I know that the lemon zest will continue to release citric acid over time. And since I am stuffing into 60-65mm casings which will usually allow a little lower acid drop during fermentation, I settled on 1.875g. sugars/kg. mince. Weighed that out and mixed it in with the spices, salt and cure #2. Added that to the meat along with the pistachios. Then it was mixed very well for protein extraction.
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Next was stuffing... ended up with 5 salami 1600-1800g. each; 22" long. Into the ferment can to warm up for a few hours, then I will transfer to the accelerated drying chamber for 5-7 days. Will check the pH in 24 hours...when it drops below 5.2 I will transfer.
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Awesome man!

 

[LoydB]

Thanks for the recipe and the assistance!

 

[indaswamp]

No problem LoydB. I have receive a ton of help from this site...I'm just paying it back...and paying it forward when I can.