TIP OF THE DAY: Substitutes For Ham Hocks
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There’s nothing like a ham hock to add smoky flavor to hearty soups, bean and lentil dishes, stews, greens and other winter fare. The hock is the lower portion of a hog’s hind leg.
But many people don’t eat ham, and many of those who do should cut back on cholesterol and salt. As we were preparing to make a 12-bean soup this weekend, we recalled a tip from Top Chef audience favorite Carla Hall: Use smoked turkey drumsticks instead of ham hocks. (If you want pork for your recipe but can’t find ham hocks, substitute two-to-four ounces per hock with: chopped bacon, guanciale [cured smoked hog jowl], cubed ham, chopped salt pork, a ham bone or smoked sausage.) Carla, a Nashville native, loves Southern food and eats lots of greens. To make them healthier, she uses smoked turkey instead of ham hocks, and adds Brussels sprouts—leaves separated—for extra nutrition. |
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Another tip: Carla makes a healthy sweet potato mash with olive oil and orange zest. Things you don’t know about Carla Hall She’s a CPA! An alumna of Howard University’s School of Business, she worked for Price Waterhouse for two years. She then took a 180-degree turn and spent several years as a model on the runways of London, Milan and Paris. In Paris she fell in love with the art of food, and voilà! Know Your Pig Parts What’s the difference between a back rib and a spare rib? Pork belly and pancetta? American bacon and British bacon? Become a pig parts expert. |
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