Zampone is a dish prepared from a pig’s leg.
It consists of the lower part of a pig’s leg (called a “zampino” in Italian) with the foot still on.
It is stuffed with finely-ground, seasoned sausage meat, and simmered for a long time.
After cooking, it is let cool to room temperature, then sliced and served with lentils.
Some versions are made without the leg altogether. They are just a 4 to 5 inch (10 to 12 ½ cm) wide sausage, formed in a cylinder shape and wrapped in pig rind.
If you are looking for the unstuffed version (just plain pigs legs / trotters) of Zampone, see Zampino.
Literature & Lore
Traditional in many northern regions of Italy for New Year’s Day.