Pepperoni is not an alternate name for salami, it's arguably either a specific kind of salami or an entirely distinct food, invented in America by Italian immigrants. Salami is made from cured pork, pepperoni can be either all pork or a blend of pork and beef. It's made with a different blend of spices from salami, most prominently the paprika that gives it a bright red color (and its name, that's the connection to the peperonici you were expecting). It's an extremely popular pizza topping and also used as a sandwich filling, usually in combination with other varieties of salami.
howlingfrog t1_itmn9gp wrote
Reply to comment by Hi_its_me_Kris in But have you tried pepperoni for your flu-like symptoms. by yttikat
Pepperoni is not an alternate name for salami, it's arguably either a specific kind of salami or an entirely distinct food, invented in America by Italian immigrants. Salami is made from cured pork, pepperoni can be either all pork or a blend of pork and beef. It's made with a different blend of spices from salami, most prominently the paprika that gives it a bright red color (and its name, that's the connection to the peperonici you were expecting). It's an extremely popular pizza topping and also used as a sandwich filling, usually in combination with other varieties of salami.