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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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