Lentils are commonly eaten with cotechino in Italy’s New Year tradition to symbolize prosperity. Their small, round shape is often compared with coins, so eating them is associated with hopes for financial good fortune in the coming year.
Cotechino is a cooked Italian pork sausage, traditionally made from pork rind, pork meat, and fat, and is especially associated with northern Italy. It is commonly served with lentils around New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The rich, substantial dish reflects older customs in which plentiful food represented abundance.
The pairing is strongly associated with Modena and the surrounding Emilia-Romagna culinary tradition, although versions are enjoyed throughout Italy. Another similar New Year dish is zampone, a stuffed pig’s trotter; it is also frequently served with lentils and should not be confused with cotechino itself.
The prosperity symbolism is cultural rather than a guarantee of wealth. Recipes, preparation methods, and regional accompaniments vary, but lentils remain the canonical good-luck food in this Italian New Year pairing.