Ham Hock and Potato Pie

A local Kilkenny organic pig is killed and no one wants the delicious ham hocks, so they landed up on my kitchen table. If we kill animals for food, we should be respectful of the fact that a life has been taken and be prepared to make use of the entire animal. Some of the lesser known cuts of meat make for the best eating. This Ham Hock and Potato Pie is made using mostly locally produced Kilkenny ingredients.

Ham Hock covered with water, simmered with celery, onions,

leek tops, herbs and spices.

INGREDIENTS TO COOK THE HOCK 

1 ham hock, 

Leeks, 

Onions, 

Celery,

Bay leaf, 

Black pepper, 

4 cloves,

1 star anise, 

Herbs.

Cover with the ham hock with water, add fresh leeks leaf tops, onion, celery, bay leaves (anyone can grow a bay tree), whole black peppers, cloves, star anise, parsley stalks, sage, thyme. Simmer 2-3 hours until the meat is falling off the bone.

Leave to cool in stock. Strain the stock and reduce it and retain whatever you do not require for soup.

Ham Hock cooling in its own stock

INGREDIENTS FOR PIE

Meat off hock,

Onion,

Freshly dug carrots,

Freshly dug leeks,

Freshly picked thyme - tablespoon

Goose grease left over from Christmas

1 tablespoon flour

500 mls Homemade cider

250 mls reduced ham hock stock

Creme fraiche

6 floury potatoes

Some Kilkenny produced ingredients for Ham Hock Pie

Fry onion, fresh carrots, fresh leek, thyme in goose grease left over from Christmas. Once soft, add tablespoon flour mix in and add 500 mls homemade cider, 250 mls reduced ham hock stock. Add ham removed from bone and simmer 10 minutes.

Ham Hock Pie filling ready for Potato topping

Steam 6 floury Golden Wonder potatoes, until they are smiling, these ones were grown on the fertile flood plain of the River Nore. Remove the skins, mash with 100gms of creme fraiche or milk and add any seasoning you wish. Place on top of meat and vegetables.

Kilkenny Organic Ham Hock & Potato Pie

Put in moderate oven for 45-50 minutes and you will wonder why we do not eat ham hocks more often.
Email: kilkennyseakale@gmail.com