Italian Capocollo with Arugula Lemon and Capers

Italian Capocollo with Arugula Lemon and Capers is a delicious way of serving Italian cured meat over fresh bitter greens topped with 3 ingredients. And, it is delicious! It also makes an easy and ideal appetizer for any gathering.

(Disclosure: this post was published back in 2013, and has been updated)

Italian Capocollo with Arugula Lemon and Capers

Thinly sliced sweet Italian capocollo, served on a bed of fresh arugula leaves and topped with lemon juice, capers, and extra virgin olive oil, is delicious! This simple Italian dish features a few fresh ingredients—the Italian way! …Moreover, it makes for an exquisite and impressive appetizer that you can whip up in minutes.

What is Capocollo?

Capocollo is a traditional Italian dry cured meat that can be served alone, in a sandwich, or sometimes as we prefer, as an appetizer! It is made from dried cured pork.

What does it taste like?

It’s an Italian cold cut similar to salami but the taste is a cross between prosciutto and pancetta.  It also has a creamy, chewy texture due to its fat content. Plus, it can also have a slightly smoky flavor depending on how they cure it.

Where can we find Capocollo?

You can find capocollo in almost every Italian food market around the world.  They also come in pre-packed packages as “sweet” or “hot.” We prefer the “sweet” capocollo, because the “hot” tends to be too spicy for us.

How do we serve capocollo?

Because capocollo is a fattier cold-cut meat, we like to serve it with fresh greens like arugula. Some restaurants will serve it with a simple lemon dressing and fresh arugula over the sliced meats, and some will serve it under, just as we have done here.

Arugula adds a little peppery taste to balance the fatty flavor. Plus, we like to have some capers, lemon juice, and extra-virgin olive oil drizzled over the entire dish to offset some of the saltiness.

All together, it’s a delicious combination, and everyone will enjoy this simple dish.

What ingredients will you need?

Depending how on the size of the platter you want to make, an average amount is about 4 ounces of thinly sliced Capocollo cured meat. Plus, you will need fresh lemon juice, some capers, and extra virgin olive oil.

1. Capocollo – an Italian deli cured meat.
2. Arugula – is preferred to add some fresh greens and peppery flavor to the meat.
3. Lemon Juice – we prefer to use fresh lemons for the best flavor. Bottled juice is ok, but will always leave a bitter aftertaste.
4. Extra Virgin Olive Oil – is preferred, and it is poured over the entire platter for some richness and flavor.

Additional Options for Serving Capocollo

• Make delicious Italian sandwiches with it. You can use it to make Italian Muffuletta Sandwich.
• Add some to a charcuterie board, along with our favorite Italian meats and cheeses.

Serve and enjoy!

The best part is it only takes 5 to 8 minutes to prepare, and it makes a wonderful appetizer to serve next to a board filled with your favorite cheeses. It makes a nice presentation too!  Just place it on your buffet table and let everyone help themselves.  It’s that easy. 

Oh, don’t forget to place a basket of fresh crusty Italian or French bread to go with it.

Enjoy!

Italian Appetizers

• Gluten-Free Stuffed Mushrooms
• Bruschetta with Fig Jam Gorgonzola
• Easy Caprese Skewers
• Burrata Caprese Crostini Bites

Have a Delicious Day!

Thanks for stopping by…

xo anna and liz