German Pork Hock (Schweinshaxe Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is a Schweinshaxe in German food? ›

Schweinshaxe (German pronunciation: [ˈʃvaɪns. haksə]), in German cuisine, is a roasted ham hock (or pork knuckle). The ham hock is the end of the pig's leg, just above the ankle and below the meaty ham portion. It is especially popular in Bavaria as Schweinshaxn [ˈʃvaɪns.

You can smoke ham hocks on a smoker for a moist and flavorful option, roast them in the oven until crispy and browned, or boil them on the stove.

Pork knuckle is variously known as pig knuckle, pork shanks, pork hock and ham hock (though this also refers to smoked or cured hocks). For German Pork Knuckle, we specifically need the rear leg knuckles / hocks because they are much bigger and meatier.

Because pork shanks come from the front leg of the pig, they can be tough and chewy if not cooked properly. Slow braising allows the fat in between the meat on the shank to render as it braises and slowly cooks and will make this cut of pork one of the most flavorful and tender pieces of pork you've ever had.

Schweinshaxe is traditionally served with a side of boiled potatoes, sauerkraut, and a dark beer. The combination of the smokiness of the pork knuckle, the sweetness of the potatoes, and the tanginess makes for a truly memorable dish.

If you have very meaty hocks, you could just roast them, eat the meat (or use it in an omelet or another dish), and then throw just the bones into a soup. If there's just not much meat on those bones, throw the whole roasted hock into the soup pot.

meat in a ham hock that is very tasty, but there is also a lot of high quality fat, collagen and cartilage that melt away and add lip-smacking savoriness to your dish. Ham hocks are usually sold pre-cooked, and often smoked.

The nutritional benefits of ham hock

Ham hock is high in protein, but also brings with it a share of fat, saturated fat, so should therefore be eaten in moderation. In terms of minerals, ham hock also contains sodium and potassium.

As it is, the hock itself isn't particularly appetizing at first glance. It largely consists of skin, tendons, and ligaments. The meaty parts require a fair amount of cooking to become palatable — of course, the meat is deliciously succulent once prepared. That's not to say they can't be eaten by themselves.

Schweinshaxe originated as a peasant food. Many such recipes were created to make inexpensive and tough cuts of meat more palatable.

What is the difference between a pork shank and a pork hock? ›

From a culinary standpoint, ham hocks and ham shanks are essentially interchangeable with just two differences between the two. Ham hocks tend to be bonier and have less meat on them because they come from the area of the leg that is closest to the foot of the pig.

How do you make pork soft and tender? Soak your pork in a salt-based brine before cooking it using your desired method. Pork chops need to soak between 12–24 hours, an entire pork tenderloin needs to soak for 6–12 hours, and an entire pork loin requires 2–4 days of soaking.

What it is: If you're really into pork chops, pork tenderloin is the cut of meat to know. Cut from the loin, this is the most tender cut of pork. It takes on added flavors from marinades, rubs, and spices with ease.

Do not cover pork crackling joints while they're cooking, or you'll be left with soggy crackling. There's no need to baste pork while it's cooking as the fat should keep it moist, but some cooks like to brush the crackling with a little extra oil once or twice.

As a rural tradition during hog-butchering time, scrapple dates to the sixteenth century in Germany, where it was called panhas, pawnhos, or pan haas, meaning “pan rabbit.” While parts of the pig became sausages or bacon, the rest, “everything but the oink,” was collected for scrapple and for black or blood puddings, ...

Bratwurst (German: [ˈbʁaːtvʊʁst]) is a type of German sausage made from pork or, less commonly, beef or veal.

Eisbein (literally: 'ice leg') is a German culinary dish of corned ham hock, usually cured and slightly boiled. The German-language name has associations with the practice of using a pig's leg-bone for ice skating. In southern parts of Germany, the common preparation is known as Schweinshaxe, and it is usually roasted.