Like many traditional foods, bresaola originated out of pure necessity. Way back in the medieval era, fresh meat was scarce during Northern Italy’s frigid winters, so locals would prepare by salting, seasoning, and dry-aging beef to preserve it—much in the same way one would with fresh pork for prosciutto. During the dry-aging process, the beef would lose most of its moisture, reducing its total weight by nearly half and concentrating its rich, meaty flavor significantly. While preservation techniques have certainly evolved, global appreciation for bresaola’s bold and beefy flavor has only grown over the centuries, which is precisely why we’ve brought in Trader Joe’s Sliced Bresaola to our refrigerator cases.

Sliced thin and ready to serve, right out of the package, our Bresaola makes a fantastic filling for a homemade deli sandwich, a terrific topper for a plate of pasta, and an inspired choice for including in a charcuterie board. It astounds as part of a classic Italian appetizer when served with Arugula and Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, and satisfies when enjoyed on its own as a simple, savory snack. We also emphatically endorse enhancing it with a little Sicilian Lemon Juice and Oregano or Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.