| Luganega | |
| Alternate Name: | Luganiga, luganica, lucanica |
| Country: | Italy |
| Region: | Northern Italy |
| Main Ingredient: | Pork |
| Variations: | With cheese, sweet wine, broth |
Luganega (also called luganiga, luganica or lucanica) is an Italian fresh sausage made with pork. It is a traditional food from Lombardy, Veneto and northern Italy and is usually rolled up to appear like a snail.[1] However, the sausage is originally from Southern Italy, deriving from the Italic tribe called the Lucanians, which lived in Basilicata and Calabria in pre-Roman Italy. Lucanian soldiers spread the sausage called Lucanica to Rome and from there to other parts of the Latin-speaking empire, where it survives in many languages in similar form, for example, the Portuguese Linguica.
Luganega is part of the risotto alla monzese (Monza-style risotto), a variant of risotto alla milanese, can be used in barbecues or in rich stews together with mushrooms or potatoes.[2] [3]
It has a few variations: in the richest one pork is united with Grana Padano, Marsala wine and broth.[4]