(Turkey, pork, and beef neck bones are usually available at butcher shops and ethnic grocery stores.) Smoked ham hock, if you can get it, is extremely good as well because like neck bones, you get all the gelatin and bone you need for a full-bodied soup, plus a lot of smoked flesh.
What can I use in place of a ham hock?
Ham Hock Substitutes
If you can’t get your hands on ham hocks, or are in a cooking pinch, you can use bacon, pancetta, guanciale, or smoked pork sausage in place of them. You can also use other parts of the pig that are packed with flavor but less prized like jowl bacon, pig trotter (the feet), or the ears.
Is a pork hock same as neck bones?
The process for making smoked neck bones and ham hocks is the same but I’m demonstrating the process using neck bones. They are very straightforward and simple to make, it just involves a bit of a wait for the neck bones to marinate in the brine.
Is pork neck a ham hock?
Neck bones are usually not smoked while ham hocks usually are. So you get a smoke flavor from the ham hocks that you don’t get from neck bones. But the real reason you use either is to slowly cook away the collagen. Neck bones have more than enough collgen to provide good flavor and texture to beans.
Is pork hocks the same as ham hocks?
Pork hocks are the front legs of the pig. They are usually sold whole and cut into pieces. Ham hocks are the rear legs of the pig. These tend to be smaller and less expensive than pork hocks.
Can salt pork be used in place of ham hock?
Because of its high salt- and fat-content, salt pork is not an ideal substitute for ham hock. A scant cup of broth made from a piece of fried salt pork might convey the same porky richness as a cup or two of ham-hock broth, but generally, differences in texture and bulk substantially affect recipe results.
Can I substitute pork hock for ham hock?
Difference Between Pork Hock and Ham Hock
For starters, ham hock is cured or smoked whereas pork hock is raw. Due to this reason, it is not ideal to substitute one for the other since they each impart a distinct flavor and differ in the way they are used in recipes.
What can I use instead of ham hocks for collard greens?
Notes. You can swap out the ham hocks for other smoked or cured pork products, like slab bacon or salt pork, as long as they aren’t lean meats, like smoked pork loin. Lean meat will dry up and toughen with extended cooking.
Can I substitute pork shank for ham hock?
Ham Hock Substitute
If you can’t find a ham hock, don’t worry. You can easily substitute pork shank, smoked bacon, or smoked sausage without affecting the recipe too much.
Can you use smoked pork neck bones for soup?
Smoked pork neck bones give this soup a special flavor that distinguishes it from any other. You can make this homemade bone stock ahead of time to save some cooking time.
Is smoked neck bones pork?
Like many other pork cuts, neck bone is often smoked to add additional smoky and deep flavors. The term “neck bones” strictly applies to pork and isn’t used for other types of meat. Cuts like this that come from beef are usually called the beef neck, and cuts from lamb are either called lamb neck or neck chops.
Are ham hocks smoked?
Hocks are typically cured with salt and smoked, so they’ll lend a bacony flavor to whatever you add them to. Ham hocks are usually sold in pairs that are pre-weighed and stocked in the butcher case with the other pre-packaged items.
Do you have to soak smoked ham hock?
It is not necessary to soak ham hocks before cooking. However, in some instances, it may be beneficial. For example, if you want to remove the excess salt from the ham hock, soaking in warm water for about 2 hours will be helpful. Most people cook ham hocks by boiling them in water or adding them to soups and stews.
How is salt pork made?
Salt Pork -Step by Step
- Acquire Pork Belly, Chop or Keep Whole.
- Cover Pork Completely with Sea Salt & Brown Sugar (ratio 5:1)
- Leave in Mixture for 2-3 days.
- For larger Pork Bellies Drain and Repeat Steps 2 & 3.
- Rinse Pork & Dry.
- Store Wrapped in Fridge or Cool Area.
- To Use Soak or Simmer in Water Before Use.
Is ham hock the same as ham bone?
Is a ham hock the same as a ham bone? No, but they can definitely be used in the same way—both are usually smoked, so they add similar flavor to a dish. A ham bone will have more usable meat on it than a ham hock.
What is the difference between pork hock and pork shank?
My Recipes explains ham hocks are the joint between the pig’s foot and leg which means they’re made up of mostly skin, tendons, and ligaments and not very much meat. Conversely, according to Piedmont Grocery, shanks come from just below the pig’s shoulder or hip and tend to be meatier than hocks.
What part of the hog is the ham hock?
A ham hock, sometimes referred to as pork knuckle, is the joint between the tibia/fibula and the metatarsals of the foot of a pig, where the foot was attached to the hog’s leg. In other words, it is the joint that attaches the pig’s leg to the foot.
Do you cook salt pork before adding to beans?
Add salt pork (if using) and bring to a low simmer for 1.5 2 hours, or until beans are nice and tender. When beans are fully cooked, remove salt pork and discard. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste, stirring after each addition. Add extra seasonings as desired.
Is salt pork good in beans?
And the best part of it was the crunchy, salty little pork bits that were on the side of the fish. Delicious! So whether it’s Boston Baked Beans, New England Clam Chowder or fried fish, you really need to start using salt pork.
Can you eat salt pork?
What is this? However, salt pork cannot be eaten raw even though the high concentration of salt has been used in the curation process. Instead, the salt pork must be rinsed and cooked before it is safe to consume.
What does pork hock taste like?
What Do Ham Hocks Taste Like? Ham hocks have a rich, smoky, and porky taste similar to bacon. They add a meaty essence to any dish, and even if the actual pig knuckle isn’t consumed, the flavor remains in whatever it’s cooked with.
Are pork hocks fatty?
A hock is not fatty but can be made tender from all the collagen that breaks down during cooking.
Is pork shank the same as ham shank?
Pork shank is commonly prepared with vegetables. Pork shank is a cut of meat taken from the lower portion of a ham. Traditionally, the word “ham” is reserved for a pig’s back thighs and leg region and usually comes in three sections, one of which is the shank.
Are smoked ham hocks already cooked?
Ham hocks may be fully cooked or uncooked, depending on how they’re produced. Cooked hocks usually say “fully cooked” or “double-smoked” somewhere on the package. If the hock is still vacuum-sealed in its original packaging, you can keep it refrigerated for two weeks or until its “use-by” date, whichever comes first.
What kind of meat can I put in collard greens?
What is the best smoked meat for making collards? I like to use smoked ham hocks for making Southern collard greens. You can also use smoked turkey wings or smoked turkey neck bones.
How do you get the bitterness out of collard greens?
Use salt.
Salt is a friend to bitter greens, whether you plan to eat them raw or cooked. Mellow the bitter flavor with a sprinkle of salt on endive or radicchio, or include anchovies or cured meat (like bacon, pancetta, or proscuitto) along with mustard, beet, or collard greens.
How do you substitute bacon for ham hocks?
(If you want pork for your recipe but can’t find ham hocks, substitute two-to-four ounces per hock with: chopped bacon, guanciale [cured smoked hog jowl], cubed ham, chopped salt pork, a ham bone or smoked sausage.) Carla, a Nashville native, loves Southern food and eats lots of greens.
How do you make a ham hock?
All you have to do is visit your local grocery store, deli market or a major retailer supermarket like a Walmart Superstore. They should have ham hocks available in the same sections that sell ham and other related pork products.
