Cotechino in prison

The recipe for “Cotechino in prison” is a dish from the Emilian tradition, particularly in the Modena area. This dish gets its name from the peculiar cooking technique in which the cotechino is cooked inside a net of pork rind, resembling “bars” that evoke the image of a prison.

Ingredients

• 1 pre-cooked cotechino
• Pork rind net (you can ask your butcher for it)
• Meat broth (about 2 liters)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Lentils (optional, to accompany)
• Onion, carrot, celery (optional, for sautéing the lentils)

Preparation

1. Begin by softening the pork rind net in cold water if necessary.
2. Wrap the pre-cooked cotechino with the pork rind net, tying it well with kitchen twine to maintain its shape during cooking.
3. In a large pot, bring the meat broth to a boil.
4. Submerge the cotechino wrapped in the net in the boiling broth and let it cook on low heat for about 2 hours, following the packaging instructions for cooking the cotechino.
5. If you want to serve the cotechino with lentils, prepare a sauté with onion, carrot, and celery. Add the lentils, cover with meat broth and cook until they are tender.
6. Once the cotechino is cooked, remove it from the broth and let it rest for a few minutes before cutting.
7. Remove the pork rind net and the twine before cutting and serving the cotechino in slices.

Curiosities

Cotechino in prison is considered a rich and substantial dish, ideal during the winter holidays, especially on New Year’s Eve where the cotechino, accompanied by lentils, becomes a symbol of good luck for the new year, as the lentils would represent small coins that bring prosperity.

Remember that cotechino in prison can be accompanied by a good mashed potatoes or a side of vegetables to balance out the richness of the dish. Enjoy your meal!