Home made brawn

[Wendy]

I'll bet most of your mouths are watering...

My Mum just loves brawn. And I have 2 questions:

a) does anyone make their own brawn these days?...and

b) does anyone have a good recipe?.

I want to make one as a surprise for her.

[chrisb]

I've not made it for a while - but this is the recipe I used. In fact I think it's time again...

YOU NEED

• half a pig's head
• 2 pig's trotters
• half a nutmeg
• 20 black peppercorns
• 10 cloves
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 blades mace
• 1 tbs dried sage
• 1 bunch parsley
• 1 tsp sea salt
• water

If not already done remove the brains and eyeball from the head. Wash it thoroughly in cold water.

Split the trotters in half

Grate the nutmeg

Put all the ingredients in a large pan (I used a preserving pan)

Cover with cold water and bring to the boil

Remove the scum, cover the pan and reduce heat to a simmer.

Simmer very gently for 4 hours - or till the meat is very tender.

Allow to cool for about an hour, then strain the meat, reserving the liquor

Take the meat off the bones discarding all skin, gristle, excess fat etc.

Either finely chop or shred the meat and put it in a 1.2 litre bowl.

Meanwhile boil 600 ml of the stock rapidly till reduced by half - taste the stock and adjust the seasoning

Strain the stock into the bowl.

Leave in the fridge overnight

To turn the brawn out dip the bowl quickly in a bowl of very hot water, then invert onto a serving plate.

Lovely grub!

   

[cooperlola]

Oh, and as an aside, if she likes brawn, maybe you should get her to try some Rillettes while your at it.  Yum.[:P]

[Wendy]

Wow, thanks for that recipe!. Im not too sure if I can poke out the eyes from a pigs head though, is there a substitute for that?...I saw Lord of the Flies years ago you see and it gave me the horrors. [+o(]

[chrisb]

In the UK the eyes will have been removed before it gets to the butcher. Not bought one in France so couldn't be sure but I would think it unusual these days - if not ask the butcher to do it.

Hope you enjoy it!