Ham is a delicacy that has been prepared by hand for centuries. If you've ever wondered how to make your own ham at home, you've come to the right place. In this article, we explain the techniques and the detailed process for making it. Serrano ham o cooked ham step.
The meat selection From the curing or cooking process, here you'll find all the information you need to enjoy an authentic homemade ham. Follow each tip and you'll get a spectacular result. You might also consider pairing this delicious ham with a orange and ham salad for a complete gastronomic experience.
Types of homemade ham: Serrano and Iberian
Before starting preparation, it is important to know the types of ham that exist and their main differences.
- Serrano ham: It comes from the white pig and is the most common in Spain. Its curing varies between 7 and the 24 months.
- Iberian ham: It comes from Iberian pigs fed on acorns or feed. Its curing time is longer and its flavor is more intense.
Both types of ham require a specific curing process, which we'll detail below. If you're looking for recipes to pair with ham, we suggest trying some like: white beans in sauce that combine perfectly.
Step by step to prepare ham at home
1. Meat selection
To obtain a good ham, it is essential to choose a quality pork leg. It is recommended to select a piece with a minimum weight of 9 kg to ensure optimal healing.
2. Bleeding the piece
Before starting the salting process, it is essential to remove any remaining blood. To do this, press the meat with a cotton cloth, making sure that draw blood from the veins close to the bone.
3. Salting the ham
The ham is completely covered with coarse salt and is left to rest in a cold environment (between 3 and 4ºC) with a humidity of 80-90%. During this process, which lasts 14 to 21 days, the salt penetrates the meat and helps preserve it. Remember that the correct storage It is also key to success in ham making.
4. Settlement
After salting, the excess salt is removed and the ham is left to rest for 50 to 90 days so that the salt is distributed evenly throughout the piece.
5. Drying and curing
The ham is hung in a cool, well-ventilated environment, with controlled humidity between the 65% and 75%. Over several months, the meat will gradually lose water, which will intensify its flavor. This process is crucial, as it is in the preparation of baked fish that require similar attention.
Preparing homemade cooked ham
1. Necessary ingredients
- 8 kg of ham meat
- 2 kg of bacon
- 250 g of medium-fine salt
- 1 g of nitro salt
- Spices like pepper, laurel y coriander
- 3 kg of ice
2. Preparation of the meat
The skin and bones are removed from the ham and it is cut into cubes. The meat is then ground together with the bacon until a homogeneous texture.
3. Mixing ingredients
In a large bowl, mix the ground beef with the salt and spices. To ensure a good texture, stir in crushed ice. This step is similar to making recipes like scrambled potatoes, where consistency is key.
4. Sausage and cooking
The mixture is stuffed into special bags and cooked in water at 80 ° C during 3 hoursIt is important that the internal temperature of the ham reaches the 60 ° C to ensure proper cooking.
5. Cooling and preservation
After cooking, the ham is immersed in cold water for 4 hours and then refrigerated for consumption. To preserve its freshness, keep it refrigerated, especially if you decide to prepare a dish that includes Brown Rice With Vegetables as an accompaniment.
Now that you know all the steps to make your own ham at home, you can experiment in your kitchen and enjoy a quality sausage, made by hand. patience y dedication, you will achieve a unique and authentic flavor.
