zampone

Zampone alla lenticchio (with lentils) is a hearty dish that many Italians eat around New Year's. They say it was invented in Mirandola (Emilia-Romagna) while that town was under siege from Pope Julius II. Being short of sausage casing, they de-boned a pig's foot and used that instead. Some people eat the gluey skin; others can't stand it. The spicy stuffing is the same as for a cotechino. Modena claims to make the best.