Salsicce con Cotiche e Fagioli
Wednesday, 15th April 2009 | 10 Comments

Last month my sister sent me a link to the website This is Why You’re Fat, a photo gallery of dishes with names like “the Thunderdome”, “the McGang Bang”, and “the Fifth Third Burger”. Three stacks of bacon, sausage, elk meat and cheese topped with fried eggs; a double cheeseburger with a hot and spicy chicken sandwich in the middle; 5/3 of a pound beef patty. The descriptions alone are enough to induce a coronary. Who would eat such things? I mean, I certainly would’t eat something so clearly bad for me. Right? Flashback to dinner at Agustarello in Testaccio on Saturday night. Of all the items on the menu the only one that really made sense to order was…salsicce con cotiche e fagioli. That’s fatty pork sausage with pork rinds and beans. Suddenly that McGang Bang doesn’t sound so heavy after all.




April 16th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
This photo reminds me of the “all day breakfasts” in a can.
April 20th, 2009 at 1:27 am
I looked at your blog and I found this – Salsicce con Cotiche e Fagioli. Wonderful. My Nonna would make something similiar.
April 20th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Lou, where was your grandmother from?
April 20th, 2009 at 2:18 am
I know it sounds weird; however, my Grandmother was born in Bologna and my Grandfather was born in Reggio di Calabria. He was very traditional and stubborn about his food. She would always make changes and try and “Northern” his food.
It’s probably why I am so bad at knowing what food originated in what region.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:24 am
It doesnt sound weird at all! I was just curious what part of Italy she came from. Bologna makes complete sense. The food in that region is sooo heavy. I went there for the first time 5 years ago and had lunch at an agriturismo near Modena and we were served grilled cheese wrapped in lard! amazing! Thankfully, there was plenty of bubbly lambrusco on hand to cleanse the palate!
April 20th, 2009 at 3:18 am
Grilled cheese wrapped in lard! That describes much of her cooking.
Thank you for answering back.
Keep posting. Your sites are great.
April 20th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
@LouRusso2 Thanks for your comments. I love to hear about people’s food memories!
July 30th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
i sent your sister that link
December 28th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Just had a nice plate of salsicce con cotiche last night – which I bought at a local butcher here in Le Marche. Didn’t know what it was, so I googled it up and found your nice description. Thanks! (I linked to this post from twitter.) My wife wasn’t too happy about my “discovery”, but my mother in law (very traditional) enjoyed them very much!
January 10th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Agustarello (no first U) is the number one in rome for fagioli cotiche e salsicce. Alessandro (the chef)’s Cavatelli al sugo di coda are excellent.