This recipe is awesome, and can serve as a unique and out-of-the-box dish for any romantic occasion (especially Valentine’s Day!) Plus, it’s featured in our cookbook, which is the perfect gift for your special someone!

What You’ll Need:

 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (try to use a high-grade chocolate)

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons cocoa powder (I use Ghiradelli Chocolate)

¼ cup boiling water

¼ cup chopped unsalted pistachios

½ cup raw whole hazelnuts

½ cup toasted sliced almonds, finely chopped

2 ounces plain cookies, such as biscotti or butter cookies crushed into coarse chunks

4 large egg yolks

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon grappa or rum (optional)

Zest of 1 orange (optional)

What to Do:

In a double boiler or pot and a metal bowl, melt chocolate and butter, whisk to combine and place in a warm spot once they are completely melted.

In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa into the boiling water and set aside.

Coarsely chop hazelnut, place in a medium bowl, add chopped pistachios, almonds and crumbled cookies.

Using a mixer with a paddle attachment, beat egg yolks and sugar together until pale and thick, or about 1 minute. Beat in the grappa and orange zest (I omitted the orange zest and rum, as my family loves the pure chocolate flavor and it was delicious as well!). Whisk the cocoa mixture into the melted chocolate and butter and then add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat until well-combined.

Add the nuts and cookies and briefly combine all the ingredients together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill until firm, or about 1 hour.

Lightly dust your surface with powdered sugar, and place the refrigerated mixture on the counter. Using your hands, roll mixture into a plump log about 2 – 3 inches in diameter to resemble a salami. Lightly dust the log with more powdered sugar and wrap in a sheet of parchment paper and twist ends of paper. Chill salami for 2 or more hours before serving.  Note: this could be made a day ahead.

To serve, cut salami on a bias and serve with vanilla gelato. This will most certainly wow your guests!!

 Serves 10.