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Is
Lard Good For You?
Iberico Lard – the new alternative to goose fat
 There
is much debate about the increasing popularity of lard in
modern cooking - having gained a reputation for being "bad
for you" lard is now making a comeback . . .
So
what is lard?
Lard
is basically pork fat, unlike its counterpart beef dripping
lard always comes from the pig. Lard is a very pure product
as the pig fat undergoes filtering - this is achieved
by heating the fat, filtering and then leaving to cool,
the end result is a white fat which is ideal for cooking
and can be kept refrigerated for up to a year.
Is
it bad for you?
Everything
in moderation! Lard is a saturated fat and as such health
experts advise that the amount consumed should be limited.
However lard retains many good properties as it is a completely
natural and unrefined product it can also be classed as
an "antibacterial" product so can in fact be
very good for the body by helping to combat disease. Experts
have also found that lard can actually help reduce body
fat as it contains linoleic acids (CLA's) The fatty acids
found in lard also play an important role in promoting
growth and maintaining a healthy metabolism.
Iberico
lard
In
recent times lard has been increasingly hard to come by,
fifty years ago it was used in almost every kitchen little
and often. Although the product is now becoming more recognised
as a fantastic cooking ingredient availability is still
low. Iberian lard is the finest available although production
is still quite rare. Iberian pigs only account for 8%
of hams produced in Spain so by the law of numbers the
Iberian lard is in short supply! One major benefit of
Iberian lard is that it can be classed as "free range"
- even more difficult to source but ultimately worth it.
Taste
Lard
is all about flavour. Lard from Iberian pigs which are
fed on a diet of acorns has an exceptional flavour - the
most popular use for lard in Spain is roast potatoes.
In the UK goose or duck fat is used, the Iberian fat adds
a different flavour altogether. Because pure lard retains
the flavour of pork the Iberico taste comes through very
well indeed.
Get
ready for some fabulous golden roast potatoes next Sunday!
©
Copyright 2008 Orce Serrano Hams - www.orceserranohams.com
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