Chocolate Salami is a recipe that Italy has in common with many Mediterranean countries: Portugal, Greece, Romania, and there are version in Northern Europe as well. The first time I came across it I was in high school, my friend Manuela brought chocolate salami for an occasion, and I still remember the sensation I felt when I tasted the first bite. It seemed like such a brilliant invention, with its malty flavour, how come I had never tasted it before?  From then on, Manuela’s genuine smile will forever be associated with this recipe.
This is a simple recipe that keeps giving back. What you need is dry biscuits, chocolate, butter, and eggs, if you decide to add them. All ingredients are most likely already sitting in your pantry.
Put it in the freezer, and it will show up to welcome unexpected guests, complete TV dinners or simply scratch an itch for something sweet. Dress it up in ribbons and it will impress at dinner parties and Christmas lunches.

Ingredients

• 200g Dark Chocolate (I use either 65% or 75% dark) 
• 150g Butter left at room temperature
• 2 eggs
• 10g cocoa powder
• 70g Icing sugar
• 250g Petit Beurre biscuits (I use Liebnitz or Maria biscuits)
• 30g Rum or another liquor of your preference

Step 1 – Melt the chocolate and butter in a small saucepan and leave it on the side to cool down.

Step 2 – Break the biscuits into big crumbs, being careful not to let it crumble completely. Imagine a salami, and think that your biscuits are going to be the white bits in your salami, and that will give you a sense of how big your crumbs should be.

Step 3 – When the chocolate and butter mix are at room temperature, add the eggs, mix well and add the sugar. Then the rum. Mix again and finally add the biscuit crumbs. Fold with a spatula, so the crumbs are well incorporated.

Step 4 – Place a 30cm long sheet of baking paper on the kitchen counter.  Transfer half of the mix in the middle of the sheet and roll it until you get a sausage shape. Twist the ends of the baking paper to achieve an even more precise shape and place your salami in the freezer. Repeat with the other half of the mix.

Step 5 – After 2-3 hours, remove it from the paper, and sprinkle icing sugar all over it , to give it that salami look. Cut in slices and serve it with coffee or tea! Enjoy!

Have you ever tried this dessert? Have you made it? What’s your secret ingredient?