Il Cucinologo
EN

Puff Pastries with Lentil Cream and Cotechino

17/11/2023

Puff pastries with lentil cream and cotechino are a dish that blends tradition and innovation, combining a typical element of the Italian New Year’s period, cotechino with lentils, in a new and appetizing guise. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 200 g of lentils (already cooked)
  • 1 precooked cotechino
  • 1 small onion
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Puff pastry (1 roll if store-bought)
  • 1 egg (for brushing)
  • Aromatic herbs to taste (rosemary, bay leaf)

Preparation

  1. First, prepare the cotechino according to the instructions on the package. Usually, the precooked cotechino needs to be pierced in a few places with a toothpick and then cooked in boiling water for about 20 minutes.

  2. While the cotechino is cooking, prepare the lentil cream. In a pan, sauté the finely chopped onion with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until it becomes translucent.

  3. Add the cooked lentils (if using dried ones, remember to have soaked them the night before and then cooked them), and let them flavor for a few minutes together with the onion. Add a pinch of salt, pepper, and the aromatic herbs.

  4. Transfer the lentils to a blender and blend to obtain a cream. If necessary, add a bit of cooking water to achieve the desired consistency.

  5. Once cooked, cut the cotechino into cubes or thin slices.

  6. Roll out the puff pastry and cut out discs or squares depending on the type of presentation you prefer.

  7. Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Place a spoonful of lentil cream and some pieces of cotechino on each pastry. Fold the pastry onto itself if you have decided to make half-moons or bundles, or leave it open to serve it as mini pizzas.

  8. Brush the surface of the puff pastry with a beaten egg to give it a nice golden color during baking.

  9. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden and crispy.

  10. Serve the puff pastries with lentil cream and cotechino hot as an appetizer or main dish, accompanied by a green salad if desired.

Trivia

This dish is a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional pairing of cotechino and lentils, which in Italy symbolizes abundance and good fortune for the new year. By bringing this innovative dish to the table, you will add a touch of modernity without forgetting tradition.