Some consider pork ears to be useless offal. Nevertheless, from them you can cook original and delicious dishes. Take pickled pork ears, for example. This cold appetizer is loved not only in Russia, but also in many countries of Europe. You can cook such an unusual dish in various ways.
Classic method
Mostly pickled pork ears are usually served with vodka or other strong drinks as a great savory food. This dish is especially liked by those who like to crunch cartilages during such a meal. Since ancient times in Russia, it was considered a real delicacy. And now there are many true connoisseurs of this original product.
There are many ways to cook pickled pork ears. One of the most famous and popular methods requires the following components: 0.5 kg of pork ears, 5 g of ground coriander, 50 ml of vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar, 2 cloves of garlic, 5 g of sugar, a little salt, 3 g of basil and black pepper , bay leaf and 2 g of ground paprika.
The cooking process, in fact, consists of four stages:
- First offal should be thoroughly washed. It is necessary to remove not only dirt, but also all existing growths, bristles and hair residues. Large specimens can be arbitrarily cut into several parts.
- Fold the prepared foods in a pan with a thick bottom, add water and cook for 2 hours. After that, they should be allowed to cool well, and then gently cut into thin strips. For convenience in work, it is better to use scissors.
- Of the remaining components according to the recipe, you need to make a marinade. Fold crushed ears in a plastic bag and pour the prepared composition, and then tie tightly. Products must be protected from air. After this, the package must be shaken well and sent for a day to the refrigerator or other cool place.
The next day, fragrant ears will be fully prepared. Do not be afraid if they freeze a bit, resembling aspic. To disassemble them is not difficult.
Benefit or harm?
Some experts say that pickled pork ears are good for humans. And others say that they only harm the body. To determine who is right in this matter, you need to get to know the product itself. To begin with, it is worth noting that pork ears contain about 38% protein. This is quite a lot. And if we take into account the fact that animal protein has a beneficial effect on the course of metabolic processes, then the benefits of this product become apparent. In addition, these cartilage tissues are rich in minerals. They have a lot of sodium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, copper and calcium, as well as magnesium, zinc, selenium and manganese. In addition, in such offal is present almost the entire group of vitamins B and PP. People sometimes specifically purchase expensive drugs that contain these elements. And in the pork ears there are enough of them to provide the human body. But one cannot but note the huge amount of cholesterol, which, as you know, only brings harm. However, moderate consumption of this product will minimize the risk.
Interesting recipe
How else can you cook pickled pork ears? Each lover's recipe, of course, is his own. For example, you can use the following set of products: for two medium-sized ears you will need a little salt, 2 onions, black peppercorns, spices, 2 bay leaves and soy sauce.
To prepare such an appetizer, a standard technique is used:
- First offal must be thoroughly cleaned and thoroughly washed.
- After that, they need to be transferred to a pan with cold water and put it on the stove. After boiling, after 30 minutes, add onion, pepper and bay leaf. In total, products must be cooked for at least one and a half hours.
- The treated ears should be rinsed so that they do not stick together.
- Cut the cooled products into strips.
- Transfer them to a plastic container, pour in soy sauce and sprinkle with selected spices.
- Place the container in the refrigerator for several hours.
Thus prepared appetizer turns out to be very tasty and perfect, for example, with fresh beer.
Fragrant semi-finished product
Each master has his own idea of how to pickle pork ears. Some do it with particular pleasure, using the following products: for one large ear, 2 cloves of garlic, a tablespoon of dry mixture for making Korean carrots, 12 g of sugar, 2 bay leaves, 15 g of vinegar 9% and 8 g of olive oil.
The process usually begins with processing the main component:
- First, the ear must be thoroughly cleaned, scraping off the dirt with a sharp knife.
- Then it should be thoroughly washed and boiled for one and a half to two hours in salt water, adding a few peas of pepper to it.
- Remove ear from water and let it cool.
- At this time, prepare the marinade from the remaining products.
- Cut the chilled ear into strips and fold it into any plastic or glass container.
- Pour the product with marinade, mix well and leave in the refrigerator under the lid overnight.
In the morning, ready-made slices can be eaten or used to make original salads.
Korean Dish
Many dishes of oriental cuisine are good in that they are quite simple and quick to prepare. Perhaps this is due to the fact that local chefs use a special set of products. For example, pickled Korean pork ears can be made if available: 2 pork ears, 35 g vegetable oil, 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 3 pinches of ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon of ground coriander and dried garlic, 35 g of salt and a teaspoon of lemon juice.
Any recipe always begins with the preparation of the main products:
- Ears should be thoroughly cleaned, and then washed in plenty of water. This is best done under the tap.
- Boil prepared foods by adding 10 g of salt to boiling water. As you evaporate, the liquid can be added at random. This process takes at least an hour and a half. Such time is enough for the cartilage to soften properly.
- Remove from broth and cool well.
- Cut the boiled ears into thin strips and fold them into a deep bowl.
- Pour seasonings, soy sauce and lemon juice into it. Leave the food for 2 hours for pickling.
- After this, the straws should be transferred to a salad bowl and sprinkled with fresh chopped herbs (onions, parsley or dill).
The wonderful taste of such a dish will not leave anyone indifferent.
Delicious salad
Choosing how to cook pickled pork ears, you can stop at one interesting recipe, where the processed offal will act as an ingredient for salad. You will need the following components: 300 g of pork ears, ½ head of garlic, 2 pods of sweet pepper, a little adjika, ½ cup of vegetable and table vinegar oil, chili pepper, 3 bay leaves, salt, a teaspoon of sunflower hops seasoning, 8 g of sugar, ground black pepper and a tablespoon of coriander.
Cooking method:
- Boil cleaned and washed ears by adding bay leaf to the broth.
- Cool, and then gently cut the finished product with a thin straw.
- Transfer it to a deep container.
- Now you can do the marinade. To do this, the remaining ingredients with the exception of adjika must be put in a pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Peppers must first be chopped randomly.
- Add adjika to the mixture and pour the ears with the resulting marinade.
- Products should stand in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours.
Such an original pickled salad can decorate any feast.