Cotechino With Lentils
Cotechino and lentils is a typical dish for New Year’s Eve that is believed to bring luck and proseprity in the New Year. Why not to try!
Servings: 6
Calories: 566kcal
Ingredients
- Cotechino sausage (precooked or freshly made)
- 1 lb dry lentils
- 1 carrot , chopped
- 1 onion , chopped
- 2-3 celery stalks , chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 rosemary sprig
- 3 tablespoon tomato passata (tomato pure)
- ⅓ cup pancetta (bacon cubes)
- Pinch of pepperoncino (chili flakes)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Cook Cotechino
- PrecookedFollow directions on the package. Normally, it takes 20-30 minutes of boiling for sealed precooked cotechino to be ready to serve.
- Fresh CotechinoLet fresh cotechino soak in cold water for about 2 hours. This will make the skin softer.With a toothpick or a skewer make a few holes around cotechino sausage to prevent it from breaking. Wrap cotechino in cheesecloth and secure with kitchen twine.Fill a large pot with cold water enough to cover cotechino. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 2 hours. Cooking time depends on the cotechino quality you get.
- If you buy fresh cotechino at the butcher, ask them how long their cotechino should be cooked.
Prepare Lentils
- In a large pot add salted water, lentils, bay leaves and a rosemary sprig. Bring to a boil and cook according to directions on the package. As a rule, lentils cook in about 20 minutes.
- Once lentils are cooked remove the aromatic herbs and drain reserving come cooking liquid for later if needed.
- While lentils are cooking, prepare carrot, onion and celery soffritto.In a skillet pan add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and pancetta cubes.Saute until it starts to sizzle.Add finely chopped carrot, onion and celery. Saute for about 5-7 minutes and add tomato puree (tomato passata). Cook for another 5 minutes.Add cooked lentils to soffritto and simmer for another few minutes adding some cooking liquid from lentils if needed.
Serve Cotechino & Lentils
- Arrange lentils in a large platter. Cut cotechino in thick round and arrange on bed of lentils.
- A more rustic way is to serve a portion of lentils and a couple of rounds on cotechino sausage directly in one’s plate.
Nutrition
Calories: 566kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 583mg | Potassium: 1034mg | Fiber: 24g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1839IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 7mg