Homemade Ham in a Juice Carton
Description
Suitable for both holidays and everyday meals. This appetizing homemade ham can be served on a festive table, at a buffet, or simply as slices for sandwiches. It holds its shape well and can even be taken to work, on a trip, or to a picnic. To prepare the ham, you may use a cleaned and washed pig’s head, or several pig shanks. The appetizer is ready. Serve immediately.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Prepare the listed ingredients. Thoroughly rinse a head or several shanks in water and scrape any dirt off the skin. Rinse again.
- 2
Step 2
Place the head parts or pork hocks in a pot, add bay leaves, and cover them with water. Boil for about 20 minutes and skim off the foam that rises. Then reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer for about 2 to 2.5 hours until the meat and skin are tender.
- 3
Step 3
After the specified time, carefully transfer everything to a cutting board or work surface. Let it cool slightly, then remove the meat and skin from the bones and discard the bones. Carefully break the rest into pieces.
- 4
Step 4
Set aside several pieces of boiled meat, and pass the rest through a meat grinder.
- 5
Step 5
Add the boiled meat that was set aside earlier, sprinkle in salt, seasoning, and ground black pepper. Peel the garlic cloves and press them into a bowl. Mix everything gently. Pour in 5–6 tbsp. of the broth in which the meat was cooked and mix again. The mixture should not be too thick.
- 6
Step 6
Place the meat mixture into the rinsed juice carton in portions, pressing down lightly to release the air.
- 7
Step 7
Place the bag of meat in the refrigerator for 4–6 hours, or even better, leave it overnight. The ham will set perfectly. Carefully cut along the edge of the juice bag and transfer the ham to a plate.
- 8
Step 8
Cut the meat ham into pieces and serve with whole-grain mustard, beet horseradish, other sauces, or sour cream.