RUSTIC COTECHINO

Cotechino is a typical cold cut from Northern Italy, whose name comes from the pork rind, which is part of the product mix. Rustic Cotechino is made from the meat and rind of esclusively Italian pork meat. This special care allows us to always guarantee the freshness and integrity of our product.

With its intense, spicy aroma and savoury, strong flavour, Rustic Cotechino evokes the atmosphere of the countryside and the flavours of the Italian culinary tradition. Cotechino is the typical dish for winter dinners. In fact, it is traditionally eaten with lentils on the last day of the year to wish good luck and prosperity.

What is the best way to enjoy Rustic Cotechino? Because of its strong, savoury flavour, it is advisable to combine Rustic Cotechino with side dishes that have a strong taste or that soften the typical flavour, such as lentils or mashed potatoes. For an even better result, Rustic Cotechino can be paired with a good wine. We recommend a full-bodied, full-flavoured wine: a Buttafuoco dell’Oltrepò Pavese DOC is an excellent accompaniment. For inspiration on how to cook Rustic Cotechino, you can find lots of ideas in the special section of our website!

Processing

Rustic Cotechino is made from lean meat, fat and rind from 100% Italian porks. The proportions in which these elements are present vary according to the producer’s preferences. The recipe for the Rustic Cotechino by Salumi Pasini has a balance that makes it highly digestible compared to other cotechino on the market. Before being stuffed into the natural casing, salt, pepper, herbs and spices are added to the Rustic Cotechino mixture. Rustic Cotechino is then expertly hand-tied by master butchers and left to dry for a whole day. The excess water is then removed and the product is vacuum-packed.

How to cook it

To cook Rustic Cotechino in the best possible way, it is necessary to follow a few essential rules:

• Get a large pot where you can put the Rustic Cotechino so that it remains “lying down” and completely submerged in water.
• Remove the product from the vacuum bag.
• Pierce the casing to prevent it from breaking during cooking and to allow the excess fat to escape.
• If you want a tastier result, you can wrap the Rustic Cotechino in aluminium foil.
• Bring the water to the boil, turn down the heat to low and cook for at least 2-3 hours.
• Leave to cool and serve warm or hot to taste.

Historical notes

Rustic Cotechino is a cooked sausage of Emilian origin. In particular, it seems to have originated in the Modena area. In addition to Modena, the tradition of Cotechino is well established in other cities such as Cremona, Parma, Mantua, Reggio Emilia and Ferrara. Rustic Cotechino is a product very similar to Zampone (which is also part of the Italian culinary tradition) and seems to be older than the latter. In fact, it is said that Zampone originated as a variant of Cotechino and was made by the Miradolesi during the papal siege in the 16th century.