Fagioli con le cotiche (San Marino Bean and Pork Rind Soup)
In short: A thick winter soup of borlotti beans simmered slowly with pork rind, rosemary and tomato until creamy, finished with olive oil. It takes about 2 h 35 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 2 h 10 min
- Resting
- 12 h
- Total
- 2 h 35 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 405 kcal
Fagioli con le cotiche is a thick winter soup of borlotti beans simmered slowly with pork rind, rosemary and a little tomato, eaten in San Marino around Christmas and through the cold months. The rind, called cotica, melts into the beans and gives the broth body and a silky richness without much meat. It is plain food in the best sense: cheap ingredients, long slow cooking and a drizzle of olive oil at the table.
Instructions
- Drain the soaked beans. Blanch the pork rind in boiling water for 5 minutes, then drain, rinse and scrape off any bristles or excess fat.
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot. Cook the onion, carrot and celery over medium heat for 8 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and tomato paste and stir for 1 minute.
- Add the beans, pork rind, rosemary, bay leaf and water. Bring to a boil and boil hard for 10 minutes, skimming off the foam, then cover partly and simmer gently for 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, until the beans are very soft and the rind is tender enough to cut with a spoon.
- Discard the rosemary and bay leaf. Mash about a quarter of the beans against the side of the pot, or purée a ladle of soup and stir it back in, to thicken the broth.
- Season with the salt and pepper, adding the salt late because the rind brings some of its own. Simmer for 10 minutes more.
- Ladle into warm bowls, drizzle with olive oil and serve with toasted bread if you like.
Tips
- Pork rind can be hard to find, so ask a butcher. A smoked ham hock or a 200 g (7 oz) piece of smoked bacon can take its place: add it with the beans and remove any bones before serving.
- Salt only toward the end so the bean skins stay tender. In a hurry, boil the beans hard for 10 minutes, rest them off the heat for 1 hour, then drain and carry on.
Questions and answers
What are cotiche?
Cotiche are pork rinds. Simmered for hours with beans, they turn soft and gelatinous and give the broth a silky body.
Can I make fagioli con le cotiche without pork rind?
Yes. Use a smoked ham hock or smoked bacon, or leave out the pork and add an extra tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tsp smoked paprika for depth.
Do I need to soak the beans?
Soaking overnight gives the most even, creamy result and shortens the cooking. Unsoaked beans can work but need about an hour longer and extra water.
How long does it take to make Fagioli con le cotiche (San Marino Bean and Pork Rind Soup)?
About 2 h 35 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 2 h 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Fagioli con le cotiche (San Marino Bean and Pork Rind Soup)?
About 405 kcal per serving, with 25 g of protein, 44 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 405 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 25 g |
| Carbohydrates | 44 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 11 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 500 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
