Salame del Re

Salame del Re is a typical Piedmontese spoon dessert that resembles the shape of a salami but is made with chocolate and other sweet ingredients. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 200 g dark chocolate
• 100 g powdered sugar
• 100 g softened butter
• 2 egg yolks
• 200 g dry biscuits such as Oro Saiwa
• 50 g unsweetened cocoa powder
• 100 g toasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
• Rum or liqueur to taste (optional)
• Powdered sugar for decoration

Preparation

1. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave, stirring until completely smooth.
2. Cream the room-temperature butter with the powdered sugar until smooth.
3. Add the egg yolks to the butter cream, mixing well after each addition.
4. Combine the melted chocolate with the butter, sugar, and egg yolk mixture, stirring until everything is well blended.
5. Add the cocoa powder and, if desired, a splash of rum or another liqueur of your choice.
6. Crumble the dry biscuits into not-too-small pieces and incorporate them into the mixture along with the chopped hazelnuts.
7. Pour the mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper and shape it into a salami, rolling it tightly and twisting the ends like a candy wrapper.
8. Place the Salame del Re in the refrigerator for at least 4-5 hours to firm up.
9. Before serving, remove the paper roll and dust the Salame del Re with a little powdered sugar.

Trivia

The name “Salame del Re” may puzzle those unfamiliar with the dessert, but once tasted, it’s easy to understand the reason for this regal appellation: the richness of the ingredients and the intense chocolate flavor make it a truly noble and appreciated dessert.

Remember that you can customize this dessert to your taste, for example by adding candied orange peel or replacing the type of liqueur with your preference.