Ham Hock Toasties

, from Issue #116. July, 2024
Photography by Josh Griggs.
Ham Hock Toasties

Instead of adding the meat back to the soup we have used it to make the most delicious toasties.

Makes: 4

INGREDIENTS

meat from 2 cooked ham hocks
200 grams cream cheese, at room temperature
½ cup finely grated parmesan
1-2 teaspoons hot mustard (I used Al Brown’s Old Yella Habanero Mustard)
1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
1 clove garlic, crushed
sea salt and ground pepper
8 slices good-quality bread
8 gherkins, sliced
1 cup grated cheese, use cheddar or gruyère
soft butter for spreading

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake.

Thinly slice the ham hock meat.

Stir the cream cheese, parmesan, both mustards and garlic together in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Smear one side of each slice of bread with the cream cheese mixture. Top half of the slices with the sliced ham hock, gherkins and the grated cheddar. Place the remaining slices of bread, cream cheese side down, on top. Butter both sides of each toastie.

Heat a large frying pan and cook 2 toasties at a time until golden on both sides, pressing down lightly to compact. Transfer to a lined baking tray. Repeat with the remaining 2 toasties.

Place in the oven for about 10 minutes or until hot and the cheese is melted. Cut in half to serve.

Click here to find the Smoked Ham Hock and Split Pea Soup recipe.