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Cothechino with Lentils Recipe
Cotechino with lentils is a succulent dish typical of Italian tradition and the Christmas festivities.In Italy we have the custom to enjoy Cotechino with lentils especially during New Year's Eve dinner, as a symbol of good luck for the New Year.But what is cotechino? Cotechino is a sausage made from pork, rinds, spices and salt. These ingredients are ground and then stuffed into a casing, either natural or synthetic. Cotechino requires cooking in boiling water. It cannot be eaten raw.
Ingredients
- 1 Cotechino about 600 g-1.3 pound if fresh 500 g-1.1 pound if precooked
- 380 g lentils 2 cups, dried
- 3 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 1 onion medium size
- 1 carrot medium size
- 1 celery stalk medium size
- 1-2 bay leaves
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 3-4 cherry tomatoes or ½ tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
Instructions
Cooking Fresh Cotechino
- Wrap the cotechino in aluminum foil and seal it like a candy. Then prick it in several places with a fork or toothpick.
- Place it in the bottom of a pot large enough to hold it. Cover the cotechino with cold water and simmer gently for at least 2 hours from the time it begins to boil.
- When cooked, remove it from the pot and discard the aluminum foil. Place it on a cutting board. Remove the skin and slice. Do not make slices too thin as they will break due to the soft texture of the sausage.
With Pressure Cooker
- Wrap the cotechino in aluminum foil and poke holes in it. Cover the cotechino with water.
- Close the lid and place on high heat. When it starts to whistle, reduce the heat to low and cook for 40 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and allow the steam to release completely. Then open the pot and remove the cotechino.
How to Cook Pre-cooked Cotechino
- You will need to soak it in cold water without removing it from the aluminum package.
- From the time it starts to boil, cook for about 20-30 minutes, the time varies from brand to brand.
- When it's cooked, cut off one corner of the bag, let all the cooking liquid out and then open the bag completely. Place the cotechino on a cutting board to remove the skin and cut into slices.
How to Make Lentils
- Rinse the lentils to remove any impurities. If they were soaked, drain and rinse them under running water.
- Peel and chop the carrots. Do the same with the celery and onion.
- In a saucepan, sauté in oil the chopped vegetables for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Next, add the lentils. Cover with hot water. Season with salt and pepper and add 2 bay leaves. Cook for 20-30 minutes or more, depending on the consistency you want, more or less thick.
- If necessary, add a little hot water during cooking. To add some color add half a tablespoon of tomato paste or a few chopped cherry tomatoes. When cooked, remove the bay leaves and keep the cooked lentils warm.
- Arrange the sliced cotechino and lentils in a serving dish and serve piping hot.
Nutrition
Calories: 299kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 17gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 13mgPotassium: 685mgFiber: 20gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1769IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 5mg
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