Traditional Irish Ham And Cabbage Dinner Food

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!

CLASSIC IRISH BOILED DINNER

Steps:

• Place the smoked pork into a large pot and fill with enough water to cover. Season with salt and pepper, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes.
• Add the carrots, potato, cabbage and onions; cover and continue to simmer. Use kitchen string to tie the green beans into a bundle. Add them to the pot, cover and continue to cook until the carrots and potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.
• To serve, remove pork to a serving dish. Arrange vegetables around it. Allow the pork to rest about 10 minutes before slicing.

HAM AND CABBAGE

Steps:

• If you are using a Porkette, remove it from the red packaging and remove the cloth netting from the meat. Cut the porkette into three equal pieces.
• If you are using a ham steak, make a few small cuts around the edge of the ham steak to prevent it from curling up while it cooks.
• Place the meat in a large stock pot and cover with water.
• Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Remove the meat from the cooking liquid, RESERVE THE COOKING LIQUID AND SET ASIDE.
• Cut the meat into 1 inch pieces and set aside.
• In the stockpot, sauté the onion and carrot in the olive oil for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds or until garlic is fragrant.
• Add the chopped ham, cabbage, potatoes, thyme, pepper, and one cup of the reserved cooking liquid, stirring well to combine.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. I find that once the mixture starts cooking, the cabbage releases enough liquid for the mixture to simmer, but if things look too dry to you, you can add more of the reserved cooking liquid. Just don't add too much - it's not a soup.
• Remove one cup of the mixture and purée in a blender. Return the purée to the pot with the rest of the mixture, stirring well to combine (I use a stick blender, and puree a small amount of the stew right in the pot).
• Porkette and ham are salty, and I don't ever need to add more salt. If you do decide to add salt, taste the mixture first, because there is a good chance you will over-salt it if you don't.

BOILED HAM DINNER

Steps:

• Place the ham, carrots, potatoes and onions in a Dutch oven. Place the bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, garlic and allspice on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with kitchen string. , Add to pan. Add water just to cover the ham and vegetables; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add cabbage; cover and simmer 15-20 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender; drain. Discard spice bag.