this is a very similar dinner to the one I posted a few days ago :
Pasta // Peas // Country Bacon ends
no Mise this time as its the same , but sub'd in Country Ham Seasoning Pieces from BroadBent
currently on sale ;
https://www.broadbenthams.com/Seasoning-Meats/products/82/
I took off the labels on these three packs , the second pic is the same packs flipped over so you can get the idea what's in them
the one on the L and center one is # 840 : 2 lbs Country Ham Pieces // pack. 2 packs regular price : $ 16.90 , sale $ 14.37
sale = $ 3.59 // lbs.
on a previous order , the 2-lbs packs looked like the one on the L. a current order looks like the middle one. note some significant fat
and skin differences .
the pack on the R is the # 840 : Premium country ham pieces , very little skin , and fat compared to the pack on the L
regular price : $ 22.90 and sale price $ 18.32 for 4 lbs = $ 4.58 / lbs sale price
I decided to use some ham from the middle pack :
I trimmed the little bit of skin off , mostly the upper L piece . the upper R and lower piece were mush darker and dryer
then the two others . Im guessing these were trimmings from a ham in the exposed meat surface that used to connect to the
Pig itself. its possible that the two types of ham had different tastes , but im guessing it was mostly texture
I diced the 4 pieces up :
darker , dryer on the top R. these little buggers are slippery !
I then soaked the whole bunch in cold water for 20 ++ minutes , not really by the clock.
I tasted the pieces raw after the soak and a lot of the salt had gone into solution and the drier pieces were softer.
still a lot of ' country ham ' flavor left.
for some , the country ham flavor might be an " acquired taste "
I added the drained lot raw to the finished hot pasta , after the beaten egg addition :
note the color change in the ham after the water soak.
as commercial bacon does not taste like commercial ham country bacon does not taste like country ham.
the CH has a pronounced flavor that you may like or not like. I like it , esp after soaking and desalting.
this is a very different dish to the similar one w country bacon. the bacon for that dish was cooked.
the ham here was not. I cant really say if the flavor is " Prosciutto Dice "
the dice were tender and very flavorful.
Ill make this dish many many times w the ham seasoning hunks i now have from
BroadBent.
puts Chef-Boy-Are-Dee to shame
