Tasso Ham Recipes

TASSO HAM

Steps:

• To Make the Brine: In a medium bowl, combine curing mixture, sugar, pepper, 2 tablespoons onion powder, 2 tablespoons garlic powder and water. Mix until the salt and sugar are dissolved in the water.
• Pour brine over pork. Allow pork to soak in brine for one week in the refrigerator.
• Remove pork from brine, then discard brine. Rinse and pat dry the pork.
• Preheat an outdoor smoker for 200 to 225 degrees F (95 to 110 degrees C).
• To Make the Rub: In a medium bowl, mix together the mace, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 2 tablespoons onion powder, paprika, sage, thyme and honey.
• Evenly coat the pork with the rub and work it in with your fingers. Place a roasting rack in a drip pan and lay the meat on the rack.
• Smoke at 200 to 225 degrees F (95 to 110 degrees C) for 12 hours.

HOMEMADE TASSO HAM RECIPE

Steps:

• Slice the pork butt with the grain into steaks about 1-inch thick.
• Combine the sugar, salt, and curing salt in a bowl. Make sure everything is very evenly distributed.
• Dredge each piece of pork in the curing mixture on all sides.
• Place the cure-covered pork on a rimmed sheet tray and refrigerate to cure for 4-5 hours, uncovered.
• Using your preferred smoking wood and Billows BBQ Control Fan, preheat your smoker to 225°F (107°C).
• Take the pork from the fridge and rinse it under cool running water.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the seasoning ingredients. Do not add any salt, the meat has absorbed enough.
• Liberally coat the pork in the seasoning mixture.
• Place the pork in the smoker and insert a probe attached to your Smoke X2. Set the high-temp alarm on the meat channel for 150°F (66°C).
• Close the smoker and smoke the meat!
• When the high-temp alarm sounds, verify the temps with your Thermapen and remove the tasso from the smoker.
• You can cut the tasso up immediately and toss it into a pot of beans or gumbo, but with this much, you'll have plenty to store. Wrap it tightly or vacuum seal it and freeze it until needed.

DEATH-DEFYING STUFFED SHRIMP WITH TASSO HAM AND CRAB

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute the onion, tasso ham and 2 tablespoons parsley for 3 to 5 minutes until fragrant. Combine cornbread crumbs with the sauteed ham mixture in a large bowl. Add chicken stock and blend to evenly moisten. Gently fold in crab meat and remaining parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 400-degrees F. Butterfly the shrimp by cutting almost all the way through the inside curl of the body. Open flat to resemble a butterfly shape and devein. Spoon 2 tablespoons into the cavity of the shrimp, fold the tail over to hold the stuffing in place. Perch the shrimps on a lightly buttered baking dish, tail side up. Drizzle with some melted butter and bake 10 to 15 minutes. Serve on bed of greens with Roasted Tomato Aioli.
• Begin with all ingredients at room temperature, they will emulsify more readily. In a food processor or blender, process the yolks, salt, mustard, cayenne, lemon juice, garlic and saffron water. Add the tomatoes and process again. With the motor running, add a few drops of the oil, the mixture will begin to thicken. Then, begin adding the remaining oil in a thin, steady stream. Scrape down the sides of the processor/blender. Check and adjust seasonings.

GRITS WITH TASSO

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a 4-quart heavy saucepan and stir in grits and salt. Return to a boil, stirring frequently.
• Reduce heat and simmer grits, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until very thick and most of water is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat further and cook grits at a bare simmer until cooked through, about 1 hour 10 minutes, stirring frequently and adding remaining 1 1/2 cups water (1/4 cup at a time) whenever grits become very thick.
• Add tasso, butter, and salt and pepper to taste, stirring until butter is melted.

HOMEMADE TASSO HAM RECIPE - (4.1/5)

Steps:

• Mix the seasoning together well. Rub the seasoning into the sliced meat, you want a lot on there, use it all. Place on a plate or tray, cover and refrigerate 3 days. Before smoking put the Tasso on an elevated rack so that air can circulate around it, then put a fan on it for about 2 hours to dry it out. I also don't use a water pan when smoking Tasso, this is something that I actually want to dry out during the smoking process. I hot smoked this batch in an inexpensive upright barrel smoker using charcoal as the heat source (heated with a chimney starter, no lighter fluid or matchlight coals please.) I used Pecan chips that were soaked in water for 1 hour for the smoke. I smoked this a total of about 4 hours, the first 2 hours at about 150-160°F. The second two hours at 180-190°F. The object is to get as much smoke into the meat, before cooking it all the way through. I brought the internal temperature of the meat to 150°F in the last 2 hours of smoking. When finished I again put the Tasso in front of a fan for about 1 hour. Refrigerate. When completely cold portion and store the Tasso in vacuum sealed packages. Freeze. Makes 5 pounds of Tasso.