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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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