Nitrate-Free & Preservative-Free Charcuterie

Nitrate-Free & Preservative-Free Charcuterie

Discover our collection of nitrate-free charcuterie, including salami, sausage, bacon, ham, lardo and sujuk made without added nitrates, nitrites or preservatives.

The range brings together carefully selected cured meats with clear provenance and distinctive flavour. It includes Mangalitsa pork, Hungarian Grey cattle and water buffalo charcuterie from Szomor Farm, alongside traditional Bosnian-style halal beef sujuk.

Made Without Added Nitrates or Nitrites

Nitrates and nitrites are widely used in cured meats to help preserve them and maintain colour. The products in this collection are made without added nitrates, nitrites or preservatives, relying instead on salt, careful preparation, seasoning and traditional curing, drying or smoking methods, depending on the product.

This makes the range particularly relevant for customers looking for nitrate-free salami, nitrite-free charcuterie or traditionally made cured meats with straightforward ingredient lists. For a clear explanation of the terminology, colour and flavour differences, read our guide to nitrate-free salami.

No Celery Powder or Hidden Vegetable-Based Curing Agents

Some products marketed as nitrate- or nitrite-free use ingredients such as celery powder, celery juice or other vegetable extracts as alternative sources of naturally occurring nitrates.

Our selected Szomor Farm products take a more transparent approach. No celery powder, celery juice or concentrated vegetable extracts are used as alternative curing agents. Their charcuterie relies on salt as the sole curing agent, followed by cold-smoking and traditional ageing.

Traditional Hungarian Salami & Sausage

Szomor Farm makes several products that combine traditional charcuterie-making with meat from distinctive native and heritage breeds.

The range includes Mangalitsa salami, spicy Mangalitsa salami, whole and sliced Mangalitsa ham and Mangalitsa sausage, alongside salami made from Hungarian Grey cattle and Hungarian water buffalo. Learn more about the techniques behind salami, sausage, ham and bacon in our guide to cured meat differences.

For our complete selection of traditional cured and smoked meats, visit our charcuterie collection.

Nitrate-Free Mangalitsa Bacon & Lardo

This collection also includes Mangalitsa bacon and Mangalitsa lardo, both made without added nitrates, nitrites or preservatives.

The bacon is traditionally dry-cured and cold-smoked, while the lardo is prepared simply from Mangalitsa fatback and salt before traditional curing and smoking. Their short ingredient lists keep the character of Mangalitsa pork and the traditional smoking process at the centre of the product.

Discover more foods made from this celebrated Hungarian breed in our dedicated Mangalitsa collection, or read our guide to Mangalitsa pork.

Pork-Free Beef & Buffalo Salami

For customers looking beyond pork charcuterie, the collection includes salamis made from Hungarian Grey cattle and Hungarian water buffalo, together with halal beef sujuk.

All are completely pork-free, including the meat, fat and casings used in their recipes. Explore them together in our Pork-Free Charcuterie & Salami collection.

Heritage Breeds & Traditional Production

Many products in this collection are made from traditional Hungarian breeds, including Mangalitsa pigs, Hungarian Grey cattle and water buffalo. Their distinctive characteristics, together with traditional husbandry and curing methods, are an important part of the flavour and identity of the finished foods.

Our Heritage-Breed Charcuterie collection brings these products together by breed and provenance.

Personally Selected by Monika

Best of Hungary founder Monika personally selects the foods in this collection for their flavour, clear provenance and traditional character.

Monika regularly visits producers in Hungary, tasting and selecting products for their craftsmanship and authenticity before adding them to the Best of Hungary range. She also selects complementary specialities from trusted producers elsewhere in Europe when they add something genuinely distinctive to the range.

Great Taste Award-Winning Charcuterie

Several products from our charcuterie range have received recognition at the Great Taste Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food.

This independent recognition provides additional reassurance that the quality of the products is not based solely on our own selection, but has also been assessed by experienced food judges.

View Best of Hungary’s Great Taste-recognised products in the official Guild of Fine Food directory.

How to Serve Nitrate-Free Charcuterie

Serve cured meats thinly sliced, allowing them to come to room temperature before eating so their aroma and texture can fully develop. Pair them with good bread, pickles, mustard and cheese for a simple charcuterie board.

Mangalitsa bacon is excellent cooked into savoury dishes, while lardo can be sliced very thinly and served over warm bread, potatoes or roasted vegetables, where its creamy texture begins to soften. For portions, pairings and a useful starting point, see our Hungarian charcuterie board guide.

Buy Nitrate-Free Charcuterie Online in the UK

Browse our selection of nitrate-free, nitrite-free and preservative-free charcuterie, including salami, sausage, bacon, ham, lardo and sujuk. Each product is chosen for its provenance, traditional production and distinctive flavour, with delivery across the UK.