Irish Ham Stock Food

HAM STOCK

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large dutch oven.
• Cover and simmer 30 to 40 minutes.
• Strain broth and discard residue.
• Cool and skim off fat.
• Cover and store in refrigerator or freeze for future use.

HOW TO MAKE HAM STOCK

Steps:

• Combine the ham bone or hock, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, parsley, peppercorns and bay leaf in a 6- to 8-quart pot. Cover with 3 quarts of cold water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Skim off any foamy bubbles from the surface. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook for 3 hours. (You just want to see a few bubbles rise to the surface here and there.)
• Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer, then store in jars. The stock can be refrigerated for up to one week or stored in the freezer for up to three months.

IRISH HAM STOCK

Steps:

• Place ham bones, vegetables and Guinness in a 12-quart stock pot. Cover bones with cold water. Bring to a full boil for 10-minutes and reduce to a simmer.
• Wrap garlic, bay leaves, fresh herbs, peppercorns and cloves in cheese cloth. Tie-off with string and add Sachet to stock pot.
• Simmer stock 5-6 hours uncovered, skimming the stock every 30-minutes.
• Remove bones and strain using a fine-mesh sieve. Cool Ham Stock with a ice bath and refrigerate. The stock will keep for 1-2 days.
• Chef Note: Ham Stock can be frozen for 2 months.

POST-HOLIDAY HAM STOCK

Steps:

• Gently simmer ham bone with carrot, celery, onion, parsley, bay leaves, peppercorns, and water in a large pot for 2 hours. Let cool and strain, discarding the solids.

EASIEST HAM STOCK

Steps:

• Cook ham & use meat for meals for ~ a week.
• Take remaining ham & cut most of it off the bone, leaving some to cook with the stock.
• To a large pot add ham bone, 3 stalks of celery washed & snapped in half, 2 onions, skin on, chopped in half, & 5 quarts of water (or enough to cover ham bone).
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to a simmer, let simmer for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Remove ham bone, celery, & onion from stock. Discard celery & onion.
• Pick meat off of ham bone & set aside. Discard bone.
• Put meat back into stock & put into refrigerator to allow fat to congeal on the surface.
• Once fat is solid on the surface, remove & discard it.
• Reheat stock.
• Sterilize 5 quart jars & heat lids/bands.
• Prepare pressure canner.
• Once jars are sterilized, fill with stock (& remaining ham bits), leaving 1" headspace.
• Clean jar rims & apply tops & bands.
• Place in pressure canner & apply pressure canner lid.
• Heat until a steady stream of steam has been produced for 10 minutes.
• Place jiggler on top at 10 lbs. & once it starts rocking back & forth allow cans to cook for 25 minutes.
• After 25 minutes remove canner from heat & let cool until pressure vent falls.
• Remove jiggler.
• Wait 10 minutes.
• Remove lid & take jars from canner.
• Set on a clean, dry, flat surface & allow to cool for 24 hours.
• Remove bands, wipe jars down, and put away.

TRADITIONAL IRISH HAM AND CABBAGE DINNER

Steps:

• Place thyme, parsley, and onion in a cheese cloth for easy removal after cooking.
• Put ham into a large pot and cover with cold water.
• Add all other ingredients except cabbage and bring to a boil.
• Turn to simmer and cook until veggies are tender.
• Remove the herb bag.
• Add cabbage, simmer for 20 minutes.
• or until cabbage is cooked.
• Remove ham and cut in to pieces.
• Place on the center of a large platter.
• Strain the cabbage and season it with pepper.
• Surround the ham with the cabbage, carrots, and potatoes.
• EAT!