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Smoked ham, smoked egg and potato salad with mustard dressing

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for smoked ham, smoked egg and potato salad with mustard dressing.
Smoked ham, smoked egg and potato salad with mustard dressing

Smoked ham, smoked egg and potato salad with mustard dressing

Ben Dearnley
4
30M
1H 30M
2H

Smoking tips

When smoking inside, ensure your kitchen is well ventilated, with the extractor fan on high and any windows open, to avoid triggering smoke alarms.

A well-sealed vessel is essential for smoking. Use two baking trays of exactly the same size, and seal the join with long strips of foil, crimping the edges tightly.

If you are using regular baking trays to smoke, line the base and sides of each one with several layers of foil. This will make them easier to clean and minimise tainting.

Alternatively, disposable aluminium trays are available from supermarkets and specialist barbecue shops. Opt for the sturdier ones for ease of handling.

Be precise with your timing, including the amount of time you stand the smoking vessel before you uncover it. Any greater length of time could result in an acrid, unpleasant flavour. We suggest taking the trays outside when uncovering them.

Make sure your woodchips are dry and dense to begin with. Each variety imparts a different flavour, so try experimenting with different ones to find your favourite.

The recipes we’ve produced here all use a hot-smoking method, where a direct heat source is used. The other method used by some manufacturers of smoked products is cold smoking, where the smoke is created in a chamber separate from the product to be smoked. In this case, the lower the temperature while smoking for a longer period of time, the more smoke flavour will be imparted.

Kettle-style barbecues (such as those made by Weber) are excellent for smoking as you can use them outside and they have a small compact chamber. If you’re using any other type of barbecue, check the manufacturer’s instructions before building a fire base.

Ingredients

Smoked eggs
Mustard dressing

Method

Main

1.Combine ham hocks, vegetables, garlic, thyme and bay leaf in a large saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to the simmer over medium-high heat, reduce heat to low and simmer until meat falls from the bone (1-1½ hours). Strain (discard vegetables; stock can be frozen for 3 months). When cool enough to handle, coarsely shred meat (discard skin, bone and sinew) and set aside.
2.Meanwhile, for smoked eggs, preheat oven to 180C. Place eggs in a saucepan, add enough cold water to just cover, bring to the boil over medium-high heat, remove from heat and stand for 10 minutes. Drain, refresh under cold running water, then roll eggs on a work surface to crack shells. Pierce holes in reserved carton base with a skewer and return eggs to carton. Scatter rice, sugar and herbs in a disposable foil roasting pan (see note), place a wire rack on top (elevate it by resting it on small metal dariole moulds), place eggs in carton on top, top with another disposable foil roasting pan of the same size, then cover edges with foil and crimp to seal well. Place pan over medium-high heat, cook until smoke appears, transfer to oven and cook for 8 minutes. Stand for 10 minutes before removing lid, then, when eggs are cool enough to handle, peel and set aside.
3.Meanwhile, cook potato in boiling salted water until very tender (8-10 minutes), drain and set aside.
4.Meanwhile, for mustard dressing, combine mustard, vinegar, lemon juice and garlic in a bowl and season to taste. Add oil in a thin, steady stream, whisking continuously until combined, then set aside.
5.Combine ham, potatoes, frisée, parsley and shallot in a bowl, drizzle with mustard dressing and season to taste. Break egg into large pieces, add to salad and serve warm or at room temperature.

Note Disposable roasting pans are available from supermarkets and specialist barbecue shops. Alternatively, use two flameproof roasting pans of the same size and line each with several layers of foil.

Drink Suggestion: Oaky Barossa semillon. Drink suggestion by Max Allen

Notes

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