Pan Fried Pepperoni Versatility

I have always loved those crispy edges of the pepperoni that you find on your pizza. It's kinda like bacon, but more spicy! Every now and then I get a craving for that flavor. One day I decided to try to get that flavor out of the pepperoni without baking a pizza. What follows is the wonderful result of my little experiment... Click "Read More" for the details!
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Pepperoni ends and pieces

Place the pepperoni in a heavy cast iron pan...

Fry slowly over medium-low heat...

Hot, crispy, and ready to go...

Chopped up and ready for a salad topping, scrambled eggs, or anything that strikes your fancy!

I made a grilled cheese sandwich this time...

Yes. It was as good as it looks! :)

Pan Fried Pepperoni

This recipe is pretty straight-forward. I like to use pepperoni ends and pieces for two reasons. The first reason is the price. Ends and pieces are cheaper than fancy cut slices. The second reason is that the ends and pieces are already cut and ready to fry. Their thickness is preferred over thin slices. I get mine at my local discount grocery store! 

Directions:
Simply place the pepperoni ends and pieces in a heavy cast iron frying pan or similar pan over medium-low heat. Be sure to place an even single layer across the bottom pan without crowding too much. As the pepperoni begins to sizzle, it will quickly release a fair amount of grease. This grease is what gets everything nice and crispy. Don't panic, just keep an eye on everything until the pepperoni is as crispy as you like it. When done to your liking, place the pieces onto a paper towel to drain any excess grease. The pieces are now ready to use. They go great in a grilled cheese sandwich! Try them over a fresh green salad, or a baked potato in place of bacon bits. Kinda like bacon, there are many uses for fried pepperoni. Fry up a batch and let me know what you come up with!
​Peace :)