Coppa leikkele ~500g

Coppa on tyypillinen italialainen leikkele, joka valmistetaan pitkistä kokolihapaloista. Lihaan hierotaan suolaa, pippuria ja mausteita, jonka jälkeen se rullataan tietynlaiseen astiaan. Lihaa kypsytetään vähintään kolme kuukautta kontrolloidussa lämpötilassa ja kosteudessa. Coppalla on omanlaisensa tyypillinen maku ja tuoksu. Sitä nautitaan tyypillisesti antipastona tai vaikkapa tyypillisen italialaisen paninin täytteenä.

Capocollo, coppa or capicola is a traditional Italian pork cold cut (salume) made from the dry-cured muscle running from the neck to the fourth or fifth rib of the pork shoulder or neck. It is a whole-muscle salume, dry cured, and typically sliced very thinly. It is similar to the more widely known cured ham or prosciutto, because they are both pork-derived cold-cuts used in similar dishes. It is not brined as ham typically is.

In its production, capocollo is first lightly seasoned often with red and sometimes white wine, garlic, and a variety of herbs and spices that differs depending on region. The meat is then salted (and was traditionally massaged) and stuffed into a natural casing, and hung for up to six months to cure. Sometimes the exterior is rubbed with hot paprika before being hung and cured. Capocollo is essentially the pork counterpart of the air-dried, cured beef bresaola. It is widely available wherever significant Italian communities occur, due to commercially produced varieties. The slow-roasted Piedmontese version is called coppa cotta.

Capocollo is esteemed for its delicate flavor and tender, fatty texture, and is often more expensive than most other salumi. In many countries, it is often sold as a gourmet food item. It is usually sliced thin for use in antipasto or sandwiches such as muffulettas, Italian grinders and subs, and panini, as well as some traditional Italian pizza.