Cudighi

Cudighi (/ˈkʊdəɡiː/) is an Italian-American dish consisting of a spicy Italian sausage seasoned with sweet spices that can be bought in links or served as a sandwich on a long, hard roll, often with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. It is primarily found in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the Midwestern United States.

Cudighi

Alternative names	Gudighi
Type	Sausage
Place of origin	United States, Italy
Region or state	Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Preparation

Cudighi can be served many ways in many Italian-American dishes. As a sandwich, it was originally served with raw onions and mustard on a roll,^[1] but is today typically served with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce.^[2] Additional toppings may include mushrooms, onions, and green peppers.^[2]

The taste of Cudighi varies with the amount of clove and cinnamon present in the mix.

History

Cudighi appears to be derived from Cotechino, a Northern Italian fresh sausage made from pork, fatback, and pork rind,^[3] and is primarily found in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, particularly in Marquette County.^[4] The sandwich and its distinctive sausage were first sold in northern Michigan by Italian immigrants in 1936, who called it Gudighi. The sandwich was originally dressed with mustard and onions; using tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese as toppings became popular following World War II.^[5]

See also

• List of sandwiches

References

1. Fowler, Brenda (June 29, 1997). "Endless Trails to Open Water". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 11, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
2. Himmelstein, Rebecca (October 31, 2014). "Cudighi Sandwich Remains Staple in the Yooper Diet". Upper Michigans Source. Negaunee, MI: WLUC-TV. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
3. "Cotechino di Modena" [Cotechino of Modena]. Ricettedi Magazine (in Italian). Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
4. "Cudighi Tradition Continues in Ishpeming". ABC 10 News. Ishpeming, MI: WBUP-TV. January 28, 2014. Archived from the original on August 26, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
5. Smith, Andrew F. (2013). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America, Volume 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 576. ISBN 978-0199734962. Retrieved August 23, 2015.

Further reading

• Magnaghi, Russell M. (Winter 2017). "The Mystery of the Cudighi Solved". Chronicle. Vol. 349, no. 4. Historical Society of Michigan. p. 13.
• Rummel, Rachel. "Cudighi". Atlas Obscura. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020.