Friulian peasant families boast a long butchery tradition , everyone in the house slaughtered the pig that was raised to feed the family and produce sausages for the lean periods.

Cotechino (or " muset " in Friulian, because it is mainly made from pig head meat) is a poor dish , made from slaughter waste.

It has now become a symbolic dish of Friuli Venezia Giulia and northern Italy in general. It is a mixture of minced and stuffed meat, salt, pepper and herbs, then boiled.

It is served hot, typically accompanied by brovada , with the addition of mustard or kren (horseradish). at will.