WHAT DO THE BOLOGNESI EAT AT CHRISTMAS?

What do the Bolognesi eat on Christmas Day? I polled several of my Bolognesi students this week to get the holiday scoop. Here's the breakdown of a typical Bolognese Christmas lunch.

CHOCOLATE COVERED PANETTONE.

TORTELLINI IN BRODO

For the Bolognesi, no meal is complete without tortellini in brodo, or tortellini pasta in broth. Of course, Christmas lunch is no exception. Tortellini are eaten all year round, typically for Sunday lunch, often homemade by Bolognesi grandmothers, each with their own special technique which they claim is "the right way".

ZAMPONE

Zampone, a truly unique sausage made from pig trotters stuffed with minced pork shoulder, is usually eaten as a second course. It's quite similar to cotechino, another sausage typical of Modena made from pork, fat back and pork rind, often eaten with lentils at New Year's.


SALSE

These herbal condiments are often dabbed on top of the plain boiled meats to add a little color and flavor. They are typically made from a combination of blended fresh herbs, onion, garlic, celery, vinegar and tomatoes. There different versions, including green sauces (made from green herbs and vegetables) and red sauces (made from vegetables and tomatoes).

PANONE

Panone is a dense Christmas bread made from a variety of dried fruit, chocolate, flour, eggs, milk and wine. It's similar to Certosino, another type of holiday fruit cake that is more spiced.

Now it's time to get back to my own slice of panone...

Buon appetito tutti!