Ham hocks are used in dishes throughout the world in different ways. While many cuisines have recipes that utilize the meat of the hock, they are primarily used for flavoring in the United States.
Here’s our guide to using our country ham hocks in your recipes:
- Add to any dish to enhance its smoky flavor. Country ham hocks add a fabulously smoky flavor to stews, soups, and sauces.
- Slow is best. Country ham hocks are best cooked slowly to get the most out of the flavor. Add a hock to your simmering stew or crockpot soup, and you’ll taste the difference.
- Toss into bean dishes to take them to the next level. Ham hocks add a depth of flavor to bean dishes that many cooks swear by. They are commonly used in split pea soup as well as beans and rice recipes.
- Experiment with ham hocks in your vegetable dishes. Country ham hocks are staples of traditional collard greens, and for good reason. In addition, you can use their smoky Southern flavor to enhance your green beans, cabbage, or vegetable soups.
- Try country ham hocks as your main course. You can enjoy the succulent meat from a ham hock with simple ingredients and just a few minutes of cooking time. Take a page from Polish and German cuisines and try ham hocks with beer and honey or perfectly seasoned with allspice, black pepper, bay leaves, mustard seeds, and a dash of red pepper flakes.