Mille-feuille of Cotechino and Lentils

The Mille-feuille of cotechino and lentils is a dish that combines the Italian tradition of New Year’s Eve dinner with a touch of originality in its presentation. Let’s see together how to prepare this dish.

Ingredients

• 250 g of pre-cooked cotechino
• 200 g of green lentils (preferably Castelluccio lentils)
• 1 carrot
• 1 onion
• 1 stalk of celery
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Vegetable broth as needed
• Balsamic vinegar, for decoration (optional)

Preparation

1. First, prepare the lentils. Start with the mise en place by washing the carrot, celery, and onion, then finely chop them.
2. In a pot, sauté the chopped vegetables in a stream of extra virgin olive oil.
3. Rinse the lentils under running water and then add them to the pot with the vegetables. Toast for a few minutes and then cover with vegetable broth. Cook over medium-low heat until the lentils are soft but still whole, for about 30-40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper towards the end of cooking.
4. Meanwhile, cook the cotechino following the instructions on the package. Generally, the pre-cooked cotechino only needs to be heated in water for about 20 minutes.
5. After cooking the cotechino, let it cool slightly and then slice it into slices about 1 cm thick.
6. To assemble the mille-feuille, use a round pastry cutter or an alternative to form the layers. Place the first slice of cotechino on the plate, add a spoonful of lentils on top of it, and press lightly to form a second layer with a new slice of cotechino.
7. Continue with layers until the desired height is reached, usually 3-4 slices of cotechino alternated with lentils are enough.
8. After finishing the final layer with lentils, place a drop of balsamic vinegar reduction for decoration, if desired.

Curiosity

Tradition has it that cotechino and lentils are eaten at New Year’s to bring luck and prosperity. Lentils, with their round and flat shape, resemble coins and are hoped to bring wealth in the new year; cotechino, on the other hand, represents abundance due to its richness in meat.

Here is a traditional recipe served with an innovative presentation. Enjoy your meal!