Prosciutto cotto triestino

Prosciutto cotto triestino or Cotto Trieste is a traditional cooked ham originating from Trieste in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. This ham is made from pork legs and its main characteristic is that it's left on the bone, which is considered a rarity.

The ham is salted (water, salt, sugar, and flavorings are injected into the femoral artery), massaged by machines so that the brine distributes throughout the meat, smoked over wood and aromatic herbs, and cooked slowly in steam ovens, usually for 12 hours.

After it's been cooked, the ham is usually cut into slices with a knife and enjoyed as it is or paired with kren or mustard. There's also a variety of cotto triestino that's baked in a bread crust consisting of water, flour, and salt.