‘Cotechino’ is a type of Italian sausage, heir to a millennial tradition that some scholars trace back to the ancient Egyptians. Prepared with pork meat and rind, it comes in different variations, related to different production areas. The most famous is undoubtedly that of Modena, so as to have earned the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) mark, which certifies and protects its characteristics. Let’s savor the authentic taste of this specialty, thanks to the precious help of its most traditional producers, gathered in the Zampone and Cotechino Modena IGP Consortium.
What is Cotechino sausage?
‘Cotechino’ is a particular type of sausage, consisting of a mixture of pork meat, fat, rind, salt and various seasonings (*1), stuffed in the intestinal skin of the animal itself (*2). Cylindrical in shape, it looks like a large salami.
The specialty is part of the gastronomic tradition of many Italian regions, presenting in each of them different characteristics. Cotechino Modena is, at the moment, the only one recognized by the European istitutions with the assignment of the IGP mark (Protected Geographical Indication): this makes it, de facto, the flag bearer of a very ancient tradition.
Notes:
*1: Salt and pepper above all;
*2: The skin can be natural or artificial;
The history of Cotechino sausage.
The technique of stuffing pork meat into the intestinal skin of the animal is incredibly ancient (*1). This would explain why it’s so difficult to study the past of ‘Cotechino’, one of the most famous Italian sausages.
Some scholars have recently hypothesized that his place of origin could be the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, the birthplace of another, very similar product: the ‘Musetto’ (*2). What we know for sure is that Cotechino was already prepared in the 16th century by the Guild of ‘Salsicciai’ of Modena (*3): it was since that period, if not earlier, that the name of the specialty started to be associated to the Emilian city.
The fame of the delicacy grew considerably during the 1700s and 1800s. Its definitive consecration took place in 1999 with the attribution of the IGP mark to Cotechino Modena which became, de facto, the most representative type of a product available in many Italian zones.
Notes:
*2: It’s important to remember that ‘Musetto’ is also part of the Venetian culinary tradition;
*3: The Guild was officially born in 1547, distinguishing itself from that of the ‘Beccari’;
Cotechino Modena PGI: the preparation.
Here follow the steps of the preparation of Cotechino Modena PGI (*1):
1) The procedure begins with the grinding of pork rind and meat (taken from its striated musculature) (*2):
2) Continues with the mixing (*3) of the minced meat with pork fat, salt and pepper (*4);
3) The mixture is stuffed into the intestinal skin of the pig.
Cotechino Modena is sold fresh, after drying (*5), or cooked (*6).
Notes:
*2: Molds with holes are used for the muscular parts (7 to 10 mm in diameter) and for the rind (3 to 5 mm in diameter);
*3: The mixing takes place in special vacuum machines;
*4: The Production Specification involves also the use of wine, water, aromas and flavoring substances, spices, aromatic plants, sugar, potassium sodium nitrite, ascorbic acid and glutamate;
*5: The drying takes place in special air stoves;
*6: The cooking generally takes place in water. Once ready, Cotechino is packaged in special airtight containers;
What is a ‘sausage’?
The ‘sausage’ (in Italian ‘insaccato’), is a type of cured meat, prepared by stuffing a mixture of minced meat, fat, herbs and spices in the intestinal (or synthetic) skin of an animal. Sausages can be raw (such as salami and Cotechino) or cooked (such as wurstel and Mortadella).
Fresh and precooked Cotechino sausage.
Cotechino Modena PGI is marketed in two types: ‘fresh’ and ‘precooked’. The fresh one should be eaten shortly after purchase and requires prolonged cooking (which generally takes place in water). Precooked Cotechino, sealed in airtight containers, can be stored for a long time.
The main differences between Cotechino and Zampone.
‘Zampone’ is a kind of sausage closely related to Cotechino. The two specialties, in addition to sharing much of their tradition, are very similar to each other except in appearance: although the mixture of both contains, more or less, the same ingredients, in the case of Zampone this mixture is stuffed inside the rind of the pig’s foreleg, while in the case of Cotechino it’s stuffed in the intestine skin of the animal.
Cotechino sausage and lentils.
Although Cotechino can be accompanied by many types of side dishes such as mashed potatoes, beans, or sauerkraut, the ‘classic’ combination, generally offered on New Year’s Day, is the one with lentils. This particular legume is considered very auspicious, especially from an economic point of view. In Italy there are many varieties of it, such as, for example, the Lentils of Castelluccio di Norcia (PGI), those of Altamura (PGI), those of Villalba, and those of Ustica.
The PGI Indication and the Product Specification document.
The European Union assigned the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) to Cotechino Modena in 1999. This attribution represented, de facto, the formal recognition of the product’s originality and its close connection to a particular territory. The characteristics of the specialty (its ingredients, areas of production, preparation method, etc.) were codified in a specific Product Specification document, whose compliance is guaranteed by the Consortium Zampone and Cotechino Modena PGI.
Cotechino Modena PGI, the production areas.
Although some scholars speculate that Cotechino is originally from the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, it’s undeniable that great part of the tradition of this specialty is closely related to the city of Modena and its province. This was, most likely, the reason for the assignment (*1) of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) to ‘Cotechino Modena’ by the European Union. However, it should be emphasized that this sausage is part of the gastronomic culture of many other places in northern Italy (and not only), hence the inclusion of the following provinces in the list of authorized production areas (*2): Modena, Ferrara, Rimini, Forti, Bologna, Reggio-Emilia, Panna, Piacenza, Cremona, Lodi, Pavia, Milan, Varese, Conio, Lecco, Bergamo, Brescia, Mantua, Verona and Rovigo.
Notes:
*1: Occurred in 1999;
*2: This list is part of the Product Specification document of Cotechino Modena PGI;
Modena in pictures.
Here follow some pictures of Modena, the city of Cotechino Modena PGI.
The other Cotechini.
Cotechino Modena, having received the ‘imprimatur’ represented by the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), can be considered, in a way, the standard-bearer of a specialty counted, in different forms, among the Traditional Agri-food Products (PAT) of many Italian regions.
Here follow a shortlist of some of the most famous:
‘Cotechino Molisano’ P.A.T. : Produced in Molise, it’s flavored, among other things, with orange peel, bay leaf and fennel seeds;
‘Cotechino Piccolo’ P.A.T. (o ‘Piacentino’): Produced in Piacenza and its province, it’s flavored, among other things, with cinnamon and nutmeg;
‘Cotechino di Maiale del Trentino Alto Adige’ P.A.T.;
‘Cotechino di Trecenta’ P.A.T.: Produced in Trecenta (province of Rovigo);
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‘Cotechino di Puledro’ P.A.T.: Produced in Padua and its province, it’s prepared using a mix of foal and pork meat; ‘Cotechino Pavese’ P.A.T.: Produced in Pavia and its province, it’s flavored, among other things, with Marsala wine, aniseed and vanilla; ‘Cotechino Cremonese Vaniglia’ P.A.T.: Produced in Cremona and its province. ‘Vaniglia’ (‘vanilla’) indicates the sweetness of the sausage; ‘Cotechino della Bergamasca’ P.A.T.: Produced in Bergamo and its province; ‘Cotechino Bianco’ P.A.T.: Produced in Valchiavenna and Valtellina, stands out for its pale color;
Cotechino in poetry.
The qualities of Cotechino are celebrated by the Modenese poet Tigrinto Bistonio in one of his works: ‘Gli Elogi del Porco’ (1761). The artist, mentioning the specialty, writes:
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in fragranza e in sapor vivanda eletta!
Quando tu giungi inarca ognun le ciglia.
I grati effluvi ad assorbire in fretta
si spalancano i tubi ambo nasali
e un “Oh” comune il godimento affretta”.
“Ah, cotichin, nothing else resembles you
Food chosen for its fragrance and flavor!
When you arrive, everyone raise the eyebrows.
Both nasal tubes open wide
To quickly absorb your grateful scents
And a common “Oh” anticipates the enjoyment”.
‘Cotechino’: the origins of the name.
‘Cotechino’ (‘Cùdghèin’ in Modenese dialect) takes its name from the Italian word ‘cotica’, meaning ‘rind’, the skin of the pig. It’s not surprising, since rind is, in fact, one of the main ingredients used for the stuffing of this exquisite specialty.
Modena, the city of Cotechino sausage.
Although opinions regarding the birthplace of Cotechino are sometimes conflicting, when it comes to tradition, the place of reference for this specialty is undoubtedly the Italian city of Modena (and its province).
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THE MOST TRADITIONAL PRODUCERS
This article is the result of collaboration between WebFoodCulture and the Consortium Zampone and Cotechino Modena PGI, an organization bringing together the most traditional producers of the famous sausages. The information provided describes the actual characteristics of Cotechino.
ONLY THE MOST TYPICAL AND TRADITIONAL FOOD & WINE
Cotechino Modena PGI in video.
Here follow an interesting video showing the preparation of a tasty dish based on Cotechino Modena PGI.
Music by Rossini for Cotechino sausage.
Gioacchino Rossini’s music is undoubtedly the ideal ‘soundtrack’ for an article about Cotechino. It’s renowned, in fact, the great love that the famous composer had for this sausage.
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Note: join Spotify and listen to the full songs.
Cotechino on New Year’s Eve.
Cotechino is a kind of sausage generally served throughout autumn and winter.
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Cotechino Modena, calories and nutritional values.
One hundred grams of Cotechino Modena PGI contain about 320 kcal. The sausage has a high content of noble proteins, as well as being rich in B vitamins. Most of the fats are unsaturated. As for minerals, there are mainly zinc and iron.
The right wine.
There are few doubts about the right wine to pair with a tasty Cotechino: the best choice is a dry Lambrusco di Sorbara. Its acidity (freshness) and effervescence are ideal to balance the fatness and greasiness of the specialty.
The Consortium Zampone and Cotechino Modena PGI: contacts.
The Consortium Zampone and Cotechino Modena was established in 2001, with the main purpose of monitoring the effective compliance with the Product Specification document of these specialties, promoting them around the world and protecting them from any possible imitation attempt.
Address: c/o Assica – strada pal. Q8 20089, Rozzano (Milan – Italy)
Website: www.modenaigp.it
Mail: info@modenaigp.it
Tel.: +39 02 8925901
FAX: +39 02 57510607
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
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The following images are public domain:
img-01 (*) – Gioacchino Rossini, 1865, Étienne Carjat (Wikipedia Link) {PD-Art} {PD-US}
img-02 (**) – Modena:Portici del Collegio, Via Emilia centro, image belonging to Icco80, (Wikipedia Link)
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cc-01 – Modena: Palazzo Comunale and Duomo, image belonging to Hierakares (Wikipedia Link)
cc-02 – La bibliothèque de l’Assemblée Nationale, 2012, image belonging to Baptiste ROUSSEL (Wikipedia Link)
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cc-03 – Modena, Duomo and Ghirlandina Tower, image belonging to Biancamaria Rizzoli (Wikipedia Link)
cc-04 – Saint Peter church, Modena, image belonging to Annovi.frizio (Wikipedia Link)
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