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All
about legs - Jamon vs Paleta
So
what is the difference? "Jamon" meaning ham always
refers to the back leg of the pig, "Paleta" is
the front leg.
Jamon
The
rear leg is a substantial ham weighing in at around 7 -
8 kg. This leg is almost twice the size and weight of the
Paleta. As a general rule the meat from the rear leg tends
to be a little more moist on the thicker side of the ham
with a slightly higher fat content. The fat is a vital part
of the flavour making the rear leg a real delicacy.
The
full ham is also cured for longer, in some cases up to two
years. This is possible, again because the ham is larger
and generally has been "salted" for longer given
its size. Smaller rear legs are also available, coming from
younger animals it is possible to purchase hams that weigh
as little as 6kg. The opposite also applies - from a larger,
older animal a ham weighing up to 11kg can be purchased,
a very large ham indeed! It is worth noting that unlike
some other meats Spanish hams from the same producer taste
very much the same no matter what size or age of the animal
they have come from. For a moist texture a larger ham may
be preferred.
Paleta
These
little hams are just as good as the rear legs. They weigh
between 4 - 5 kg and tend to be a little more "intense"
in the flavour department, why? This is due to the paleta
being thinner (almost by half) compared to the full rear
leg. The paleta is cured in the same way as its larger rear
cousin but for less time due to its size. The meat from
the front leg is slightly firmer but just as tasty. Described
as "muy Buena" by the locals in Orce village the
paleta is often favoured over the full ham. The reasons
apart from the deeper flavour are that a paleta is ideal
for tapas - a nice smaller ham to have in the home for personal
consumption.
Size
for size a paleta will also last longer as it is less moist
in the centre and therefore has less opportunity to dry
out. Colouration of the flesh is also darker.
So
which one to choose?
In
our kitchen we always have a full ham (they never tend to
last very long!) consumption is the main factor to take
into consideration, if your ham is for a function or to
be consumed regularly than a full "jamon" would
be the choice. For "little and often" tapas then
the paleta may suffice.
Tips
- Higher
fat content in the full rear leg
- Better
texture in the rear leg (moist in the centre)
- Rear
leg significantly larger with more servings
- Front
leg has a more intense flavour
- Meat
from the front leg is slightly firmer
No
matter which ham you choose they both provide a real flavour
of Spain! A unique gourmet product with a great flavour
ideal for any occasion.
©
Copyright 2008 Orce Serrano Hams - www.orceserranohams.com
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