New Year’s, the Italian Way!

This is a family tradition and even if you don’t like lentils my mother makes you EAT IT!! 😂
We are a very superstitious people..Italians that is…if you have never had Cotechino, it is a delicious pork sausage with spices.

The red underwear is another superstition that Italians follow. The wearing of red underwear brings luck in the new year but it must be given to you as a gift. You cannot buy it yourself. Thems the rules! 😂

Full recipe:

Lentil Soup (Zuppa di Lenticchie)

INGREDIENTS

1 lb Dry Lentils
2 oz Pancetta, diced
2 Carrots diced
2 Celery Stalks diced
1/2 Onion diced
1 Tomato diced or a few hand crushed canned San Marzano tomatoes
2 Garlic cloves left whole
8 cups Water
Pepper to taste
1/2 tbsp Salt
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
**Optional** Rind of Parmigiano

INSTRUCTIONS

Start by washing and draining the lentils.
Into a medium sized pot, add olive oil. Add pancetta and render for a few minutes. Add carrots, celery, onion and tomato and saute until soft. Add lentils and stir to combine. Add in the water, garlic clove, parmigiano rind and season with salt and pepper.
Stir the mixture and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the flame to low medium, cover vented and simmer from 20-25 mins or until the lentils are tender.
This can also be served as a pasta dish by boiling Ditalini or Pasta Mista and adding to the lentils. Top with grated Pecorino Romano. I love it this way!
If you are serving it with Cotechino, the sausage comes precooked and just needs to be gently warmed up by being submerged in boiling for 1 hour.

#lentilsoup #newyears #italianfood #italiantradition #soup

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