[USA] Wally's Perfected Prosciutto

uwanna61
Passionate
Passionate
Posts: 361
Joined: Sun May 15, 2011 20:49
Location: Vermont

[USA] Wally's Perfected Prosciutto

Post by uwanna61 » Tue May 01, 2012 01:01

Hey all
CW you asked what was next on my agenda? Well last night I sliced into one of two Prosciuttos that I made back in early February. Although I cannot claim this to be a "Parma Italian prosciutto ham" which can take up to 12 - 16 months to complete, this is a quicker American type prosciutto, with good flavor.

Wally

Image
Last edited by uwanna61 on Thu May 03, 2012 06:10, edited 1 time in total.
ssorllih
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 4331
Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2011 19:32
Location: maryland

Post by ssorllih » Tue May 01, 2012 01:46

Nice looking work! taste good?
Ross- tightwad home cook
uwanna61
Passionate
Passionate
Posts: 361
Joined: Sun May 15, 2011 20:49
Location: Vermont

Post by uwanna61 » Tue May 01, 2012 01:59

Hey Ross
Yeah I was surprised at the flavor, came out really well! I used a maple dark sugar with fresh ground juniper barriers and black pepper and of course salt & cure #2.

Wally
User avatar
Bubba
Passionate
Passionate
Posts: 481
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2011 21:07
Location: Aiken, SC

Post by Bubba » Tue May 01, 2012 02:15

Hi Wally,

I love the tie work you did on your ham, your experience shows. :grin: Superb looking ham!

My last few hams I cured also with Juniper as part of the other ingredients, the hint of flavor it renders is good!
Ron
ssorllih
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 4331
Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2011 19:32
Location: maryland

Post by ssorllih » Tue May 01, 2012 02:29

You know of course that the low growing junipers will yield berries every summer.
Ross- tightwad home cook
uwanna61
Passionate
Passionate
Posts: 361
Joined: Sun May 15, 2011 20:49
Location: Vermont

Post by uwanna61 » Tue May 01, 2012 02:29

Hey Bubba
Thanks for the complement, I truly appreciate it! When I mixed all ingredients together it had an amazing scent. Next time I will rub in a bit more pepper to the mix. I sliced a piece that had a few flakes of pepper on it and it stood out with flavor.

I also tried to slice the Prosciutto with a small bread slicer I have in my kitchen to get that paper thin prosciutto, well... I have new slicer coming this week. Could'nt help myself :wink:

Wally
User avatar
Chuckwagon
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 4494
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 04:51
Location: Rocky Mountains

Post by Chuckwagon » Tue May 01, 2012 02:45

That's my boy! MR. SMARTY PANTS! :mrgreen:
(Nice job, Sharkey!) :wink:

Best Wishes,
Chuckwagon
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably needs more time on the grill! :D
uwanna61
Passionate
Passionate
Posts: 361
Joined: Sun May 15, 2011 20:49
Location: Vermont

Post by uwanna61 » Tue May 01, 2012 02:58

CW
Can you hear me Laughing all the way out here on the east side :mrgreen:

Good night all


Wally
User avatar
DLFL
Passionate
Passionate
Posts: 336
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 21:10
Location: Florida

Post by DLFL » Wed May 02, 2012 03:13

That is great looking ham!!!!!
Dick

Never quit learning!
User avatar
Baconologist
Passionate
Passionate
Posts: 385
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2012 00:37
Location: Oxford, New Jersey

Post by Baconologist » Wed May 02, 2012 19:13

Yes, that ham sure does look tasty!
Godspeed!

Bob
crustyo44
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 1089
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2011 06:21
Location: Brisbane

Post by crustyo44 » Wed May 02, 2012 23:35

Hi Wally,
I am jealous of this wonderful ham of yours. You mentioned that you started it in February.
Any particular hints for us apprentices about temperatures, humidity etc etc.
Here in Brisbane it always seem to be to humid.
Regards,
Jan.
uwanna61
Passionate
Passionate
Posts: 361
Joined: Sun May 15, 2011 20:49
Location: Vermont

Post by uwanna61 » Thu May 03, 2012 02:32

Hey Jan

I would work with a pork shoulder on 1st attempt, this way you won`t invest a large amount of money in a large ham leg. A prosciutto is truly made from the hog`s rear leg, as mentioned I would recommend the smaller picnic shoulder for practice. The ham I posted was in fact a picnic and I boned the shoulder also, this will make it easier to mix the salt and seasoning, throughout the whole shoulder. When you cut the bone from the pork, take your time and remove the bone with minimal cutting so not tare everything apart, use a sharp knife. Once you have a clean cut shoulder, with bone removed, rub 2/3 of the mixed salt and seasoning, and fold the ham together and put in a plastic bag, then use a ham press. I used two bakers cooling racks to press the ham with plastic tie wraps to squeeze everything together. This also helps to remove all moisture and any blood that may be in the meat. Then Put the ham skin side down into the fridge at 36 - 38 degrees for 15 days. At the end of the first 15 days remove the ham and rub the remainder 1/3 of the salt and seasoning mixture and repeat the whole process for another 15 days for a total of 30 days for the curing process to complete. At the end of 30 days remove the plastic bag and press (cooling rack) soak the ham in cold water for no more than 30 minutes, changing the water once, and then let the ham air dry for about an hour. Rub black pepper on the meat only, not the skin/fat portion of the ham. Now is the time to put the ham into a ham bag and reapply the ham press and then into the smoker at 130 degrees for 60 hrs, making sure not to run over 130 degrees during the 60 hour process. After the 60 hour process is complete, hang the ham for a minimum of 30 days at 60 degrees with 70% humidity.

Note: I did not reapply the wire rack to the ham when I put the ham in the smoker, next time I will, so that the ham will have that flat prosciutto appearance. Makes it easier to slice also!
Also you can make this ham with the bone in but will have to make sure to get as much salt into the bone area as possible. I would also recommend if you do leave the bone in, make a slit length ways across the shoulder to press as much of the salt/seasoning into the bone area.

(USA style) Prosciutto ham (8lbs)
Ingredients:
½ cup Salt
½ cup Maple or Brown sugar
½ oz Cure #2
3 TBS Whole black pepper crushed
2 tsp Juniper barriers crushed

Mix everything together and put into a container.
uwanna61
Passionate
Passionate
Posts: 361
Joined: Sun May 15, 2011 20:49
Location: Vermont

Post by uwanna61 » Thu May 03, 2012 02:35

CW
I hope I didn't goof this up putting this recipe in the wrong place. If so, you can move it to the correct location, right? :o

Wally
User avatar
Chuckwagon
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 4494
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 04:51
Location: Rocky Mountains

Post by Chuckwagon » Thu May 03, 2012 06:05

Hey Pal, with those beautiful instructions, terrific photo, and recipe, I just had to move this gorgeous ham into a forum of its own. This is one heck of a nice work. Your clear and precise instructions should help many people make their own prosciutto. Thanks for sharing your secrets and your expertise. What a guy! What a guy! :mrgreen:

Best Wishes,
Chuckwagon
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably needs more time on the grill! :D
crustyo44
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 1089
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2011 06:21
Location: Brisbane

Post by crustyo44 » Thu May 03, 2012 06:54

CW,
I fully agree with you. The instructions are great. I will have a go at one of these next week.
Thanks a heap Wally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Regards,
Jan.


*****************************Continued On Next Page******************************
Last edited by crustyo44 on Mon Aug 27, 2012 06:04, edited 1 time in total.
Post Reply