Come December, everyone seems to be thinking about end of the year traditional tasty treats. Though in my family we used to eat them all year round; chocolate salami came to mind, as it is such a funny, creative and addicting nibble. It works great to bring along to friends (it will make them laugh, you will see…), as well as to keep some at home for an anytime sweet bite, since they keep in the freezer for months.
Growing up, my sisters and I used to make batches in minutes. We also managed to eat so much of the chunky, crunchy, funky, gooey batter in the seconds it took to transfer the mix to the wrapping papers set on the table. We would get all messy as we helped my oldest sister give the dough their salami shapes. Then, it was so hard to wait, until the chocolate salamis were frozen and hard enough to slice.
My oldest sister, Karen, told me the recipe came from a Women Community-Cooperative cookbook called Tu y Yo Cocinando (You and I Cooking) which was popular in Mexico City around the 70’s. That book was one of those fabulous gems, where participants pitched in their tried and true favorite recipes.
Now my sisters and I are all grown up and raising our families in different cities and countries. Yet, we all make chocolate salamis for our kids. None of us have the cookbook anymore (it makes me sad to think of all the wonders we are missing). As time moved on, we each have given this dessert our own personal spin, with no recipe, just by hunch as we each have made it so many times.
However one thing remains, we all use Maria cookies since they have such a deliciously loud crunch and the perfect balance of sweetness. Brought to Mexico by the Spaniards more than five centuries ago, they grew deep and strong roots in Mexico’s kitchens. Today, you can find them in most grocery stores throughout the US too. If you can’t find them, you can substitute with vanilla wafers or plain Graham crackers.
Here, I am sharing my personal spin.
The recipe below makes two generous chocolate salami portions. I like to mix half the batter with pecans and Tequila. It is absolutely to die for and gives this treat a rich and interesting layer of flavor with just a hint of alcohol. Some Mexican cooks add Rum or Kahlua to the mix as well.
I leave the other half of the batter plain for my boys (yes, it kills me, but they are picky eaters). This is one of those desserts that is pretty accommodating. Now that I think about it, some dried cherries would be pretty amazing in that mix too… But you can play around and see what flavors you would like to the mix as well…
Salami de Chocolate (with Coffee Liqueur made with Tequila)
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Ingredients
- 8 ounces or 225 grams bittersweet chocolate
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 5 egg yolks
- 12 ounces Maria cookies broken into small pieces, or plain Graham crackers or Vanilla Wafers
- 4 tablespoons coffee liqueur made with tequila rum or kahlua, optional
- 1/2 cup pecans lightly toasted and roughly chopped, optional
To Prepare
- In a double boiler over simmering water, melt the chocolate and cocoa powder along with the butter. Remove from the heat and stir the mix into a large heatproof bowl. Pour in the sugar and vanilla and combine with a spatula in a circular motion. Slowly add the egg yolks, one by one, mixing very well after each addition. Fold in the broken cookie chunks. If adding the tequila and pecans, fold them all in as well. You will have a moist and chunky, rough looking mix.
- Cut 2 pieces of waxed or parchment paper of about 15" length. Spoon half of the mixture onto each piece of paper. Shape them into logs with your hands. Roll them in the paper and give them a salami shape of about 2" thickness. Having the paper cover makes it easy to give them a quick roll to give them a round shape. To finish, twist the ends in opposite directions.
- If you made some with liquor and/or pecans and the other without, use a marker to recognize them when ready. Then wrap each one in a layer of plastic wrap. Place them in the freezer for about 2 or 3 hours or until frozen. Slice them as thin or thick as you like, while frozen, and serve.
- Chocolate salami will keep in the freezer, tightly wrapped, for about 6 months. Remove from the freezer around 10 minutes before you want to slice it.
- If you bring them over as gifts, you may want to buy colored paper to give them a festive feel, though I also like to use brown/unbleached parchment paper. It gives them a deli style. In any case, if you traveled with them for a while, don't forget to tell your friends to place the chocolate salamis in the freezer or refrigerator as soon as you give it to them (!).
Comments
27comments inSalami de Chocolate (with Coffee Liqueur made with Tequila)
Laurie Barker
Jan 22
I just saw this recipe yesterday and will be trying it today. I really like the way you explain how the elements of the dish are used and come together to create something delicious. I have 2 sons and yours remind me how mine (all grown) still come home for some of their favorite dishes. So heartwarming!
Pati Jinich
Jan 27
Aw, thanks so much Laurie!
Maritza Navarro
Apr 19
i saw this on the TV episode, it looked so tasty, i will have to make it at home with my kids.
Pati Jinich
Apr 27
Yes Maritza, you guys will love it!
Steve Wichman
Mar 28
Hola Pati,
Been making a Greek variation of this dish for a few years now called mosaiko, but I’ve to say the tequila liqueur and pecans beats crushed pistachios every time. Thanks for the suggestion.
Pati Jinich
Apr 02
Thanks Steve! There is nothing that Tequila cannot make better 😀 😀
Mairi ..carpe-deum@hotmail.com
Mar 31
Hi Steve…There are many variations of Greek Mosaiko .. certainly Pistachio is only one… and not the most traditional…try caramelised hazelnuts or toasted Almonds,cognac or Cypriot🇨🇾 Commandaria which are exceptional..NB..less yolks are added though.. Καλημέρα !
May
Jun 05
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. I enjoy watching your shows and this is the first time I tried a recipe. I’m so glad that I did. This salami is so addictive!
I brought 2 logs to a party and everyone loved it! I kept one log for myself and my husband. It’s my end of the day reward.
Pati Jinich
Jun 06
I’m so glad to hear this, May!
Linda
Dec 20
Love love love your tv show and your recipes Pati. I am a baker/candy maker along with being a well seasoned chef. All of your recipes I tried are perfect. Chocolate salami is next on my list. Thank you for sharing. By the way, I’m from Pennsylvania.
Pati
Dec 20
Aww thank you so much Linda! Have fun making the chocolate salami.
betty daniel
Feb 13
would like recipe for chocolate cake aired on feburary 13,2016, made in blender.
Pati
Feb 16
Hola Betty! Different episodes air in different cities every day, but I am guessing you mean this one… http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/2014/01/nana-joses-flourless-chocolate-pecan-cake/ If not, you can find all my recipes from the show on my site! Just type chocolate cake into the search bar. =)
Susan
Jan 07
Ms. Jinich, I really enjoy your podcasts with Sally Swift and eagerly look forward to each installment. (I also have your cookbook and love your TV show!) I heard about the chocolate salami in one of your December podcasts and decided to make it today. The ingredients list cocoa but I don’t see directions on when to add the cocoa. I added it with the vanilla and sugar but wasn’t sure. My logs are now freezing although I kept eating the mixture while I was rolling them and it’s delicious! But I would appreciate knowing definitely when the cocoa should be added. Thank you!
Pati
Jan 07
Hola Susan, I’m so happy to hear you are enjoying the podcasts — we’re having a lot of fun making them! Thank you also for getting my book and watching the show! I apologize about the cocoa powder and have updated the recipe. It goes in the double boiler with the chocolate and butter. However, if your mixture tasted delicious, I’m sure it will come out great.
Jeff
Dec 21
woah!!!)
Just brought this in from overnight outside in -28C and tasted a slice (so I could “clean up” the ends of course
Thank you so much for your recipes Pati!
Anita
Dec 08
When I saw your delectable photo of these “Chocolate Salami” treats without reading the recipe first, I smiled, “I wonder?” as it looked familiar as the saliva glands started to rev up.
Sure enough! In the 1960’s I grew up with a version of this recipe that was a little messier. My German mother would layer Arrowroot biscuits in a wax paper-lined small loaf pan with Rum flavoured ganache (read: rum stirred into melted semi-sweet chocolate chips) but with no eggs. It too had to be refrigerated to set but within minutes of taking it out to slice up it would be a melting, albeit delicious, mess. It disappeared within minutes in our household – my father wondered why she even bothered to slice it up since it didn’t matter what the pieces looked like as they were vacuumed up. Although it tasted great, it didn’t make sense as something that could be served up graciously to guests. So she didn’t – it was a “family treat.” It seemed too much of a hassle, so she only made it once a year.
Thank you for sharing this more sensible and even more wonderfully delicious, childhood recipe of yours !^_^! I am sure that I will load up our freezer and hand some out to our friends and family with love. Can’t wait to share your recipe with my mother here in Canada and with my sister in S. Pasadena. She will remember too.
Pati Jinich
Dec 11
Anita, Thank you very much for writing me and sharing your story about your mother making her version of Chocolate Salami. Her version sounds so wonderful!!
Christina
Mar 24
Meine Mutti made that dessert too. She called it Kalte Hunde Schnauze, I think. Cold dog snouts? Maybe that was a reference to the mess they made when you tried to serve them. Anyway, I was thinking that this version is a far more elegant looking version. I am going to make it for sure.
Pati
Mar 24
Thanks! Let me know how it turns out!!
Anabel
Mar 12
Dear Paty,
I love this recipe!!!!!
I just want to say THANK YOU for everything you share.
Saludos desde Tlaquepaque 🙂
Ilana
Mar 08
I made your chocolate salami yesterday – oh my! It is fantastic! It was all I could do to not eat the entire thing in one sitting!
One with the cookies, tequila and dried dates, and one just the cookies. The kids yelled for more!
Thank you for sharing this.
Pati Jinich
Mar 08
Ilana,
So glad!!! Honestly, when we make them, I am the one that yells for more….
tamara belt
Dec 13
I love this recipe and will try making it with my children over the holiday break!! Thank you! My mouth is watering. un beso! Tamara
Sharon
Dec 13
Pat: I still do it too! Now I’m vegan , I don’t eat it ( my memories of the taste and the feeling of the homey dessert are still on my mind), but my kids beg for it when there’ s no more in the freezer and weeks have passed, specially Daniela, and when her friends are home she’s proud to give them ” chocolate salami ” they all laugh but when they try it I see them going to the freezer the whole afternoon….again thank you for the memories and your delicious recipes…I love you, your sister Sharon.
Pati Jinich
Dec 13
Gracias Kar y Shar! Oh Gosh! How I love my sisters. And now we are all spread out through the world, feeding our kids chocolate salami as a treat but missing each others’ company… (sniff…)
karen
Dec 12
Guer: What memories and still so present in our kitchens !
I love the chocolate salami with rum soaked raisins .
And of course my teenagers like it the original way. Perhaps I’ll give it an absolut vodka twist one day! Bet my friends will love it !
love you sweetheart ! Karen, your big sister.