How to Make a Beer Braised Pork Trotter
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Beer braised pork trotters are an amazing meal that you can make in less than 2 hours from start to finish. With just a few simple ingredients, this dish is packed full of flavour and perfect for a cold winter night. However, for those who haven’t heard about them before, pork trotters are probably not something that you would be able to identify easily. Let alone know what to do with them. But trust us, once you give it a go and taste the end result, you won’t look at pork trotters the same way ever again! Read on for some tips on how to make a beer braised pork trotter that will have your friends clamouring for seconds.
What are Pork Trotters?
First things first – what are pork trotters? This is a question that we are often asked by people who are new to this dish. So to answer the question, pork trotters are the pigs’ feet. You might think ‘What? Pigs’ feet? In my mouth? No way!’ to which we would have to say, don’t be put off by the name. A trotter is a very flavourful part of the pig that is often underutilized, and is a byproduct of the meat industry. In fact, they are often sold at a lower price than the rest of the pig. A trotter is the hoof of the pig and the skin surrounding it. For the most part, it is made up of cartilage, tendon, skin and fat. They are often boiled and used for stocks. However, if you braise them in something like a beer, you can create a delicious, tender dish that is more appealing to most people. Yes, we realize that pigs’ feet may not be for everyone, but if you try this dish and you’ve never had the trotters with the skin still on, you might be surprised at how much you enjoy them. But we get it, this is not an easy dish to approach.
How to Prepare for a Beer Braised Pork Trotter
We’ve got you covered on how to prepare for a beer braised pork trotter. First off, as we mentioned before, you are going to need to find some pork trotters. You can pick these up at any butchers and they are often on sale during certain times of the year. So keep an eye out for them. If you buy the trotters whole, make sure that you have your butcher cut the hoof part off. That way, you will get the best meat to bone ratio. You can then store them in your freezer until you are ready to use them. When you are ready to cook them, make sure that you thaw them out slowly in your refrigerator. Once thawed, make sure to rinse them thoroughly under cold water to get rid of any impurities. If you want to make sure that the trotters are clean, you can also boil them for 15 minutes.
The Ingredients for a Beer Braised Pork Trotter
When it comes to the ingredients for a beer braised pork trotter, the list is pretty basic. · 2 pork trotters - Make sure that they are fresh and have the hoof part removed. · 1 onion - Chopped · 3 cloves of garlic - Chopped · 1 teaspoon of thyme · 1 teaspoon of sea salt · Pepper - To taste · 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper · 1 tablespoon of butter · 1 bottle of beer - Choose a dark beer for this recipe.
Cooking the trotters
This is the most important part of the dish. The cooking process will determine how your dish will turn out, so this is one part that you don’t want to miss. To start, you will want to preheat your oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Then you will place your trotters in a large pot. Make sure that you have enough room in the pot so that the trotters are covered in beer. Then add in your chopped onion, thyme, butter and beer and bring it to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, the pot should be covered and placed in the oven. Make sure to check it every 30 minutes and add more beer if it is evaporating too quickly. When it is ready after about 2 hours, the trotters should be fall-off-the-bone tender.
Final steps and serving
Once the trotters are done, place them on a plate and cover it with foil for about 20 minutes to let them rest. Then you can either serve them with some mashed potatoes or on a bed of rice. If you choose the latter, make sure to drizzle some of the beer and onion mixture over the dish before serving. If you want, you can also add in some parsley and serve them with mustard.
Tips for making the best beer braised pork trotter
- If you want to make this dish ahead of time, you can actually refrigerate it and then reheat it in a 350-degree oven after a couple of hours. - If you want, you can also remove the skin before serving. - We recommend using a dark beer because it will give this dish a rich, caramelized flavour. - If you’re not sure where to find pork trotters, try a specialty butcher shop or a Caribbean market. - Use a dark beer in this recipe for a rich, caramelized flavour. - To cut down on the fat content, remove the visible fat from the trotters before cooking.
Conclusion
Pork trotters may not be the first thing you think of when you think of dinner, but don’t knock them until you’ve tried them! Braised in beer and seasoned with a little bit of cayenne pepper, these trotters are incredibly tender and flavourful. And they’re the perfect cold-weather meal. Make sure to prepare them correctly, though, or they can turn out tough and unpalatable. So there you have it, our guide to making the best beer braised pork trotter. We hope you enjoyed the article and that you give this delicious dish a try soon.
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