How to take advantage of ham bacon

Iberian ham fat is the world's best flavor enhancer because, being encapsulated oil, it adds a lot of juiciness and aromas to your dishes. However, it's not about incorporating it into any preparation but about finding where it can add a unique touch to the recipe. So, you can use it in a wide range of preparations and create flavorful dishes. Curious about how to make the most of ham fat?

Here are some ideas!

What Dishes to Prepare to Make the Most of Ham Fat?

You can include the ham bone as an ingredient in all kinds of stews or broths, and those dry slices of ham you haven't eaten can be used to make delicious Iberian croquettes. But, what about the ham fat? As we say at Enrique Tomás, we make the most of every part of the pig, so let's see which dishes can benefit from all its nuances.

Fried Eggs with Chorizo

One of the best ideas to make the most of ham fat is by making sunny-side-up eggs with chorizo. How? Very simple, all you need for four people is:

4 eggs
2 potatoes
40g of ham fat
100g of Iberian chorizo
Salt
Chopped parsley

If you already have all the ingredients, the first thing you need to do is peel the potatoes and cut them into thin slices. Put a bit of oil in a pan and, as soon as it's hot, add the potatoes. Leave them for about ten minutes on medium-low heat because if you turn up the heat, they'll burn.

While you wait, cook the eggs. Start by adding the ham fat to the pan, and as soon as you see it filling with oil and melting, add the eggs one by one. When you see them turning golden on the bottom, they'll be ready. Now, all you have to do is assemble the dish.

Transfer the potatoes to a tray lined with kitchen paper to remove excess oil, then place them on a plate. Add the eggs on top along with salt, and place the chorizo on them, which you can grill for a couple of minutes if you like. Finally, sprinkle with parsley, and once you taste all three ingredients together...

You'll see how delicious this appetizer is!

fried eggs with chorizo

English Mashed Potatoes

It's well known how much the English love butter and how they use it in any dish. But do you want to make traditional English mashed potatoes without using this ingredient? We have the Spanish version of the recipe! The ingredients for four people are:

½ kg of potatoes
100 ml of cream
150g grated cheese
50g of ham fat
1 glass of milk
Salt

The first thing you need to do is peel the potatoes, cut them into quarters, and place them in a pot of water. Leave them in there for thirty minutes, and meanwhile, chop the ham fat as finely as possible. After this time, check if your potatoes are ready; a fork should easily go through them.

If they are ready, drain them to remove all the water. Then, pass them through a potato masher and preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). While you wait, mix the mashed potatoes with the ham fat, milk, salt, and some cheese, but use only half of it. The trick to this dish is to have finely chopped ham fat and very hot potatoes; this way, all the ingredients will melt when you mix them.

Once you have everything well mixed, transfer this mashed mixture to an ovenproof dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Put the dish in the oven and wait for ten minutes until it browns; then, your dish will be ready.

Enjoy your meal!

gratin mashed potatoes

What About Ham Sandwiches? Should You Remove the Fat?

It depends on your preferences. One of the most delicious ways to enjoy Iberian ham is undoubtedly in a sandwich. After forty years of experience, at Enrique Tomás, we know that the exact amount of ham is 40g per roll, although if you want to treat yourself and add a bit more, even better.

So, some people prefer to remove the fat from each slice of ham because either they don't like its flavor or they don't like its texture. However, the fat is very juicy, and if you leave it and add a little olive oil to the bread, it will prevent the sandwich from being too dry.