Cudighi facts for kids
| Alternative names | Gudighi |
|---|---|
| Type | Sausage |
| Place of origin | United States, Italy |
| Region or state | Upper Peninsula of Michigan |
Cudighi (pronounced COO-dee-gee) is a special kind of Italian sausage. It's known for being a bit spicy and having sweet spices mixed in, like cinnamon and clove. You can buy Cudighi as sausage links, but it's most famous as a delicious sandwich.
When served as a sandwich, Cudighi usually comes on a long, hard roll. People often add mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce to it. Even though Cudighi started in Italy, it's now mostly found and loved in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the United States.
How Cudighi is Made and Eaten
Cudighi can be used in many different Italian-American dishes. However, its most popular form is the sandwich.
When it first became popular as a sandwich, people would put raw onions and mustard on the roll. But over time, the way people enjoyed Cudighi changed. Today, it's usually served with melted mozzarella cheese and tasty tomato sauce. You can also add other toppings like mushrooms, onions, and green peppers to your Cudighi sandwich.
The exact taste of Cudighi can be a little different depending on how much clove and cinnamon are added to the sausage mix. This means each place might have its own unique flavor!
The Story of Cudighi
Cudighi first came from Northern Italy. But today, it's almost exclusively found in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, especially in Marquette County.
The Cudighi sandwich and its special sausage were first sold in northern Michigan in 1936. Italian immigrants brought the recipe and tradition with them. They originally called it Gudighi.
As we mentioned, the first sandwiches had mustard and onions. But after World War II, using tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese became the popular way to enjoy Cudighi.
Cudighi seems to be related to a Northern Italian sausage called Cotechino. Cotechino is made from pork, fat, and pork rind. The modern recipe for Cudighi, as we know it today, is likely very unique to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It's a special local treat!
