Ham Hock Terrine: A Savory, Rich, And Gelatinous Delight

Ham hock terrine is a dish that is both tasty and elegant, and it can serve as a great starter for a dinner party. The ham hocks are boiled until tender and then shredded, discarding any fat, skin, and sinews. The meat is then packed into a loaf tin or terrine dish with additional flavourings and set with a little jelly made from the stock. The dish is often served with crusty bread, salad, and a glass of chilled white wine.

Ham hock terrine's flavour profile

Ham hock terrine is a flavourful dish that can be served as a starter or as part of a buffet. The key ingredient, ham hock, is a cured bone-in ham from the lower part of the rear leg of a pig. The ham hocks are slow-cooked until the meat is tender and falls off the bone. The meat is then shredded, discarding any fat, skin and sinews.

The shredded ham is then packed into a loaf tin or terrine dish along with additional flavourings and set with a small amount of jelly made from the stock. The jelly should hold the meat together without overwhelming it. The terrine is typically flavoured with a combination of herbs such as parsley, thyme, and coriander, as well as spices like black peppercorns and mustard. Some recipes also include gherkins, capers, or cornichons, which add a tangy flavour and a contrasting texture to the soft jelly.

When served, the ham hock terrine has a rustic, elegant appearance and is often accompanied by crusty bread, pickled vegetables, chutney, or a salad garnish. It pairs well with a chilled white wine, such as an appley white like Chenin Blanc or Alsace Pinot Blanc.

Overall, the ham hock terrine has a savoury flavour profile with a balance of meaty, herbal, and tangy notes, creating a delicious and impressive dish that is perfect for a dinner party or casual dining.

How to make ham hock terrine

Ham hock terrine is a flavourful dish that can be served as a starter or as part of a buffet. It is a great make-ahead dish for a large gathering and can be served with crusty bread and piccalilli.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 ham hocks (on the bone)
• 1 large onion, quartered
• 2 celery sticks, chopped
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (optional)
• 4 tablespoons cider or white wine vinegar
• 50-100g gherkins, finely chopped
• Black pepper, to taste
• 15g parsley, chopped

Optional:

• Bay leaves
• Thyme
• Tarragon
• Caper berries
• Capers
• Horseradish
• Shallots
• White wine
• Caster sugar
• Cornflour
• Turmeric
• Dijon mustard
• Button onions
• Yellow peppers
• Salt
• Bread
• Piccalilli

Method:

• Place the ham hocks in a large pan with the onion, celery, peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds (if using), vinegar, and enough cold water to cover the hocks.
• Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 hours, or until the meat is very tender and falls off the bone.
• Remove the ham hocks from the stock and set aside to cool.
• Strain the stock into a clean pan and boil until reduced to about 600ml.
• Soak the gelatine in cold water until soft. Squeeze out the excess water and stir into the hot stock. Allow to cool.
• Once the hocks are cool enough to handle, remove the skin and shred the meat, discarding any fat and sinews.
• Place the shredded meat in a large bowl and add the chopped gherkins and parsley. Season with black pepper and mix well.
• Line a 900g-1.5kg loaf tin with cling film and pack the meat mixture into the tin.
• Slowly pour the stock into the tin. Cover with cling film and chill overnight.
• To serve, turn the terrine out onto a serving plate and decorate with chopped gherkins and parsley. Serve with crusty bread and piccalilli, if desired.

Serving suggestions

Ham hock terrine is a flavourful dish that can be served as a starter or as part of a buffet. It is often served with crusty bread or toast, and sometimes with a side of salad.

For a simple, economical starter, serve the ham hock terrine with some fresh bread or toast. You could also add a few pickled vegetables or chutney, such as rhubarb chutney, and a salad garnish. It can also be served as a lunch dish or as part of a picnic.

For a more rustic finish, flake the terrine and serve it in piles on each plate with a dollop of piccalilli and some bread. You could also try serving it with mustard, pickles, radishes, and caper berries.

Ham hock terrine is also a great option for a dinner party as it can be made in advance and is inexpensive to make. It can be served with a little dressing, crusty French bread, salad leaves, and a good chilled white wine, such as an appley white like Chenin Blanc or Alsace Pinot Blanc.

The history of the dish

Ham hock terrine is a classic pressed ham terrine made with dry-cured ham from free-range pigs, fresh parsley, and delicious ham stock jelly. It is a great starter or buffet item for a large gathering as it can be made in advance. The dish is packed with flavour and very economical, which is why it has become a favourite on casual dining menus.

The ham hocks are first boiled until very tender and the meat is falling off the bone. The meat is then stripped and broken into shreds, discarding any fat, sinews, and skin. Next, it is packed into a loaf tin or terrine dish along with some additional flavourings and set with a little jelly made from the stock.

Once set, it is turned out and cut into slices to serve. It is often accompanied by fresh bread or toast, a few pickled vegetables or chutney, and a salad garnish. It also makes a great lunch dish and would be perfect for a party buffet table or a picnic.

The dish is a good option for making ahead of time, as it needs to be chilled overnight and can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.

Where to buy ham hocks

Ham hocks can be purchased from a variety of sources, including local butchers, specialty meat shops, and online retailers.

For those who prefer to buy their meat in person, local butchers or specialty meat shops are a great option. In the US, Stoltzfus Meats offers smoked ham hocks for purchase, with the option of online ordering and delivery. Similarly, S. Clyde Weaver, a smoked meat specialty store in Lancaster, provides online ordering and nationwide shipping within the country.

If you're located in Wisconsin, Sparrow Hill Farm offers naturally smoked ham hocks from pigs raised on their farm with no antibiotics or chemicals. They also provide nationwide shipping with free shipping on orders over $195.

For those who don't have access to specialty butchers or prefer the convenience of online shopping, several online retailers, such as Amazon or other specialty food websites, offer ham hocks for purchase. These options may vary depending on your location, but a quick online search will help you find the best options available in your area.

When buying ham hocks, it's important to consider the quality and sourcing of the meat. Some farms, like Sparrow Hill Farm, pride themselves on raising their pigs with high welfare standards and natural smoking processes. If this is important to you, be sure to research the source of the ham hocks and read reviews to ensure you're getting a product that aligns with your values.

Frequently asked questions