Cotechino with lentils is a dish that should always be eaten on New Year’s. This Italian fresh pork sausage is traditionally eaten with lentils on New Year’s Eve to bring money and fortune. But other than that, it’s a delicious dish, appropriate for the whole winter and not only on the last day of the year.
Cotechino with lentils
Cotechino with lentils
Ingredients – 4 people
  • 1 fresh cotechino (600 g)
  • 300 g lentils (possibly dry)
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 celery stick
  • 1 onion
  • 1 garlic clove
  • Salt qs
  • Pepper qs
  • Extra virgin olive oil

We suggest fresh cotechino but you could also use a precooked one. You can substitute cotechino for sausage.

How to cook cotechino with lentils

  • If you use dry lentils (that we suggest), leave them in water for one night. If you use canned lentils, wash them accurately.
  • The next day pierce the cotechino with a fork to remove the excess fat. Put it horizontally in a pot covered with cold water to stew it. When the water starts boiling, reduce the heat and let it cook for one hour and a half. Then let it cool down and cut it in slices.
  • Let the minced celery, onion, garlic and carrot brown in a big pot with oil for a few minutes and put the lentils inside. Add some vegetable stock, salt and pepper. You can also use some tomato sauce to add flavor.
  • When the lentils are almost ready, put the cotechino inside and let cook without mixing for 10 minutes on really low heat.
  • Serve it putting the cotechino on the dish first and then the lentils around.