German Jellied Pigs Feet Food

POLISH JELLIED PIGS' FEET (ZIMNE NOGI OR STUDZIENINA)

Steps:

• Rinse the pigs' feet and pat them dry with a paper towel.
• In a large pot, place pigs' feet and just enough water to barely cover them. Add peeled soup greens, bay leaf , peppercorns, allspice, garlic, and salt. Bring to a boil, skimming off any foam.
• Add pork loin, again bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until feet meat is falling off the bones.
• Remove the meat from the water and debone it. Strain broth through gauze and place in a clean pot. Dice the cooked carrots from the soup greens and the meat into small pieces.
• Return diced meat and carrots to the broth along with marjoram and more crushed garlic and salt and pepper, if desired. Bring to a boil and add dissolved gelatin, stirring until well incorporated.
• Cool slightly and pour into molds, small bowls or ramekins. Refrigerate overnight.
• When ready to serve, unmold onto a serving platter or individual plates. Garnish with greens or parsley, if desired, and serve with vinegar, horseradish, lemon, and marinated mushrooms to be used at the discretion of the diner.

UKRAINIAN JELLIED PIG'S FEET (HEAD CHEESE)

Steps:

• Wash and scrape the feet and shanks very thoroughly.
• Wipe dry and broil on all sides until they are a delicate golden color. Do not scorch. Should any part become scorched, scrape it and wash well.
• Cut the feet in half lengthwise. Place the meat in a large kettle, add the salt, cover with cold water, bring to a boil and skim. Cover and simmer very slowly for about 3 hours. The success of this dish depends on slow simmering. Rapid boiling makes the liquid milky in color.
• Cut the onion in half, and brown it in an ungreased pan. This enhances the flavor and color of the broth. Add the onion and the remaining ingredients, EXCEPT the vinegar, to the meat, and continue simmering until the meat comes off the bones easily.
• Total cooking time is about 5 hours or longer. When done, strain, remove the bones, spices, and vegetables except the carrot.
• Arrange the meat and chopped carrot in a suitable dish. Add the vinegar to the broth and season to taste with salt.
• If a firm jelly is desired, soften 1 tablespoon of gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water. Blend it with a small quantity of the hot broth and stir into the broth.
• Some cooks prefer to add a clove crushed garlic to the broth at this stage rather than to cook it along with the other ingredients. If this is followed, strain the broth again to remove all the particles of garlic.
• Pour over the meat and chill until firm. Before serving, scrape off all the fat from the top.
• Serve in slices and garnish with sprigs of parsley and hard cooked eggs.
• JELLIED PIG'S FEET with CHICKEN:.
• Follow the recipe above, but replace the shank with 1/2 small chicken. Simmer the pig's feet until barely tender, and then add the chicken and continue simmering until all are done. For best results use gelatin in this dish as directed in the recipe above.

OAXACAN PICKLED PIGS' FEET

Steps:

• Place the pigs' feet, water, 3 cups of the red wine vinegar, the black peppercorns, bay leaves, 1 tablespoon of the salt and the dried thyme in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the skin starts to pull away from the bones and the meat slips off easily when pierced with a fork, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Set aside to cool completely, then refrigerate 1 hour.
• Remove and discard the outer layer of skin and fat from the pigs' feet and discard the bones. Slice the meat and soft cartilage into 1 x 1/8-inch thick strips.
• Place the meat, carrot and all the peppers in a large mixing bowl. Add the olive oil, the remaining 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, the 3/4 teaspoon salt and the pepper and toss well to combine. Cover and chill 2 to 4 hours. Serve cold on lettuce-lined plates.

PIGS FEET SOUSE

Steps:

• Boil meats separately until done.
• Cook bay leaf, whole pepper and sliced lemon with the pigs feet.
• When meat is cooled, skin tongue and remove bones from pigs feet, along with the pepper, bay leaf and lemon slices.
• Cut beef and tongue and feet into small pieces and reheat all ingredients in one pot.
• Add salt to taste and vinegar if desired.
• Pour into loaf pans and chill.
• Slice as needed.
• This is almost like head cheese, since the pigs feet jell the mixture.