Zampone Modena PGI

Description

Zampone Modena PGI is a raw or pre-cooked charcuterie product made of pork and pork rind.

Production Area

The production area of Zampone Modena PGI is within the entire territory of the Emilia-Romagna region; the territory of the provinces of Cremona, Lodi, Pavia, Milan, Monza-Brianza, Varese, Como, Lecco, Bergamo, Brescia and Mantua in the Lombardy region; the provinces of Verona and Rovigo, in the Veneto region.

Production Method

Zampone Modena PGI is made from a mixture of pig meat obtained from striated muscles, pork fat, rind, salt, and whole or cracked pepper. For the muscular parts, the meat is minced in mincers with moulds that have holes of 7-10 mm, and 3-5 mm for the rind. The mince is mixed in a vacuum or air pressure machine, together with salt and/or wine, water, spices and aromatic plants. The mixture is inserted into natural casings made from the skin of the pig’s rear limb, complete with the distal phalanges, and tied at the top. The final product can be sold fresh or cooked. In the first case, it is subject to a drying process, in the second, it is pre-cooked in water.

Appearance and Flavour

Zampone Modena PGI has the typical shape of a pig’s rear trotter. It has a soft consistency and the slices are compact, with uniform grain and a pinkish to red colour. The flavour is characteristic, with a very strong, aromatic taste.

History

The origins of Zampone Modena PGI date back to 1511: when the citizens of Mirandola (Province of Modena) were besieged by the army of Pope Julius II della Rovere, they decided to save the pigs by slaughtering them and then stuffing the meat first into the rind, thereby creating Cotechino, and later into the trotters, “inventing” Zampone. The product was extremely successful, and at the beginning of the 18th century it started being sold in the neighbouring markets, also thanks to the production growth of the historic charcuterie shops Frigeri and Bellentani.

Gastronomy

Fresh Zampone Modena PGI should be stored in the refrigerator and must be well-cooked before serving. Pre-cooked Zampone Modena PGI, packaged in airtight containers and heat treated, can be stored at room temperature for a longer period of time. It requires a shorter cooking time, generally from 15 to 20 minutes. Zampone Modena PGI is served hot and sliced, traditionally at Christmas or New Year with lentils, but also with stewed white beans, spinach with butter, mashed potatoes and apple sauce. Other recipes include “Zampone Modena PGI on a bed of orange-fragranced cabbage with Aceto Balsamico di Modena PGI”, or the particularly original “Zampone Modena PGI with Thai spaghetti, vegetables and soybeans, with an oyster and sesame seed sauce”. It pairs perfectly with sparkling red wines like Modena’s classic Lambrusco PDO wines.

Marketing

The product is marketed as Zampone Modena PGI. It is sold fresh, both packaged or unpackaged, or pre-cooked in suitable airtight packets inside a cardboard box. In both cases, it is sold whole with an approximate weight of 1 kg.

Distinctive Features

The use of smoking aromas or other aromas obtained by chemical synthesis is not permitted during the production process of Zampone Modena PGI. It has a high content of proteins, unsaturated fats (in respect to saturated fats), B vitamins and minerals like iron and zinc, and there is no added lactose or glutamate.