Here are 8 ham-bone dishes to try, from soups and stews to smoked vegetables and more.
- 1/8 cup split pea soup
- Slow Cooker Ham Bone Broth (#2)
- 3/8 Ham Bone, Vegetable and Bean Soup
- 4/8 kale in the slow cooker
- Easy Slow Cooker Bean Soup scored 5 out of 8.
- Red Bean Rice (#7).
- Ham stock (9 out of 10).
Can ham bones be used for bone broth
When Spanish ham bones are simmered, heart-healthy compounds are released. New research suggests that a broth made from Spanish dry-cured ham bones, like the one pictured above, may help improve heart health.
What should I use the ham hocks for
While ham hocks aren’t usually served as a main course, the amount of flavor they can impart to other recipes is incredible. When you add ham hocks to a pot of soup or a pot of braised vegetables, the entire dish becomes a delicious treat. Melted collagen from ham hocks gives your dishes a rich and smooth texture.
If you’re looking for a truly sweet and smoky flavor that BBQ sauce or liquid smoke can’t match, Ham Hock is your new best friend. You can use ham hocks as your recipe to enrich some liquid-based meals, wow dinner guests, or just have a good night.
There’s no limit to the types of recipes you can use with ham hocks, but these are the three main food groups that work well with them:
Soup, Stew, Stock and Chowder Recipes
When adding ham hocks to soups, stews, stocks, or chowder recipes, it is common to add spices and seasonings to a large pot and cook for several hours until the meat is tender. After the ham hocks are cooked, drain the remaining liquid and use it as the base broth for the dish. The ham hock can be cut and put back on the plate, or used on a different plate entirely.
Black Bean, Pea, Potato, and Ham Soup are all classic ham hock soup recipes. Other popular ham hock meals include white bean stew and ham and corn chowder. Also, when preparing chicken or beef soup, ham hocks can be added to give the soup a velvety texture and flavor.
Most ham hock soup and other similar recipes can be made in the slow cooker, perfect for busy workdays. Just mix all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook until you and your family are ready to eat. Use the pre-made bean soup mix to prepare a delicious ham hock and bean soup for an exciting and easy midweek dinner.
Vegetable Side Dish Recipes
While vegetables aren’t always the most popular side dish, adding some tasty ham hocks to your recipes is a sure-fire way to convince kids to eat them. Ham hocks are most often used in recipes for bitter greens like kale, radishes, and mustard, as their salty flavor can help offset the bite of most greens and create a more well-rounded dish.
Keep in mind that ham hocks take a lot longer to cook than vegetables, so you’ll have to cook them separately. To absorb the rich flavor, cook the ham hocks first, then add the finished ham hocks to the vegetables while the vegetables are simmering. You can add cured or smoked ham hocks to the vegetables at the beginning of the cooking process.
In addition to bitter greens, ham hocks can improve the flavor of various vegetables. To add flavor to Brussels sprouts, asparagus, cabbage, spinach, or onions, sauté them with ham hocks.
Beans Recipes
One of the reasons ham hocks are so popular in soul food is because they go well with black-eyed, white, red, kidney, pinto, and northern beans. Before you start cooking the beans, you can add a rich, rich flavor to your side dish by adding some ham hocks to the pot.
After you put the ham hocks in the pot, all you have to do now is let it simmer with the seasoning and beans long enough for everything to cook through and the flavors to blend. You can cut off any ham hocks you want to add to your meal after you finish cooking and discard the rest.
In addition to legume recipes, ham hocks can be cooked with a variety of legumes, including lentils and chickpeas. Cooking these dishes in the same water as the ham hock will give them an unparalleled meaty flavor.
How can I cook ham on the leftover bones
- In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, coat the remaining ham bones halfway with enough water, about 6-7 cups. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until fragrant; set ham soup aside and discard ham bones.
- In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, carrots and potatoes to pan. Cook, stirring regularly, for about 2-3 minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Season with salt and pepper after adding the ham stock, beans, corn, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked through. Add ham and stir until fully cooked, about 1-2 minutes.
- Serve right away.
How long can a ham bone last in the refrigerator
Christmas ham will keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator, either on the bone or sliced and covered with plastic and foil.
Can ham bones be frozen
Yes! Ham bones can be frozen and used to make soups later. It’s great to be able to pop it in the fridge after entertaining family and friends for a great dinner or vacation. Ham bones can be frozen for up to two months.
Is ham bone good for you
Bone broth made from dry-cured ham bones may benefit cardiovascular health because ham bones contain peptides that may have cardioprotective properties, according to a new study.
The findings were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Bone broth is a new diet craze that claims to reduce inflammation, relieve joint pain and improve digestive health. Although further research is needed to confirm these claims, stewing animal bones in water releases collagen and other proteins into the broth, which may have health benefits.
Is there a difference between ham hocks and ham bones
The junction between the tibia/fibula and the metatarsal of the pig’s foot, where the foot joins the pig’s leg, is called the ham hock or pig’s knuckle. In other words, it’s the joint that connects the pig’s leg and foot. The hock is the very end of the leg bone, not part of the ham or foot or trotter. Although ham bones and ham hocks are two separate components of a pig, they are sometimes used interchangeably. Hocks are usually salted and smoked, and they bring a bacon flavor to any dish. Budget-friendly ham hocks can be purchased at supermarket store butchers and are usually packaged and sold in pairs.
Is it healthy to eat ham bone marrow
As bone marrow becomes more popular in top kitchens around the world, scientists and doctors are starting to look into the following health benefits:
A hormone found in bone marrow adipose tissue, adiponectin, was identified in one study. This hormone helps in the breakdown of lipids. By maintaining insulin sensitivity, it is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, cardiovascular (heart) disease, and other obesity-related malignancies.
Adiponectin levels above a certain threshold are associated with a reduced risk of diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases. According to the study, overweight people had lower levels of adiponectin, but with weight loss, adiponectin levels increased.
Collagen is abundant in the bone marrow and improves bone and skin health and strength.
It also contains glucosamine, a chemical that helps prevent osteoarthritis, relieve joint pain and reduce joint inflammation.
Glycine and CLA are abundant in bone marrow and have been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory activity. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression and Alzheimer’s disease are all associated with chronic inflammation.
What can a prosciutto leg be used for
To bake this delicious pork ham ham with a brown sugar glaze, follow our recipe with step-by-step photo instructions. Great as a main course and for making sandwiches. No matter how you use it, your family will love it. A printable version of the recipe is given.
Ham shank is a pork chop that is often served during holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even so, you can usually find them all year round in the meat section of your favorite grocery store.
Ham shanks are one of the more affordable pork options, and they create a delicious family dinner that’s quick and easy to cook.
For a meal throughout the week, or even a Sunday dinner, bake this for the family, slice it, and serve it with some of your favorite side veggies. Then, here’s my favorite way to eat it, using the leftovers for sandwiches. Either way, you’ll love it.
I am using “fully cooked” pork ham shanks for this recipe. It’s also smoked for added flavor. Check the labels of items you’re buying or have already purchased to see what you have. You may get one completely raw or “fresh”. You may have a product that says “ready to eat” or “heated”.
If you are using fresh ham, the cooking time will be longer than mentioned here, but the rest of the process is the same. Just follow the cooking time recommendations on the package, combine it with this recipe, and you’re ready to go.
You can learn more about ham and food safety by visiting this page on the USDA website.
More information than I can provide here can be found on the above page.
So, if you’re ready to try our pork shank recipe, let’s get into the kitchen… let’s cook.
As mentioned, this ham shank is “fully cooked.” Because yours may be different, double-check the label and follow the baking instructions.
This weight is 8.51 lbs. You also need to know the weight of the ham shank in order to adjust the cooking time correctly.
The use/freeze date above was not blocked; when I removed the price tag from the supermarket store, it just peeled off. I paid $1.79 per pound in case you’re curious.
Your calf may look slightly different from this one. The “hock section” has been removed from this handle. The part of the handle you bought/purchased might have a sharper end than this, depending on how it was cut. Just an idea.
Place the larger end of the pan into the pan and coat with mustard.
Apply a layer of mustard to the calf section, then turn it over and apply it to both sides.
The mustard just keeps the brown sugar in place on the meat. It doesn’t have a strong mustard flavor, so don’t be afraid to use it if you don’t like mustard.
Spread brown sugar generously over calves. It will start to break down, but try to coat the calves on the sides.
Cover the whole thing lightly with aluminum foil. It doesn’t have to be a tight seal; just tuck it into the top of the pan.
Preheat oven to 325°F and bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until meat reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the ham shank, being careful not to touch the bone.
I always recommend that you buy a nice digital thermometer and use it. It’s one of the most important kitchen tools you could possibly own, and it comes in a range of price levels. They’ll give you a quick and accurate assessment of the meat you’re cooking, so you don’t have to worry about overcooking or drying out the meat.
The handle has reached 149 degrees Fahrenheit, but I want it to be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
The USDA recommends cooking bone-in pork shanks at 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
We’ll slather the shank with juices and put it back in the oven to bake a little more so it cooks a little more in the process.
Use a spoon to scrape the juices off the bottom of the pan and coat the handle.
Return the handle to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes to lightly brown.
Waiting for “leftovers” is hard for me. This is my personal favorite way to eat baked ham shanks.
Layer pork on a slice of white bread, top with Duke’s mayo, and eat.
Be sure to save the bones from your pork leg. It’s great for seasoning as well as our recipe for southern-style ham and bone beans.
