Roasted Pork Knuckle, aka “Haxe”

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My hubby is German. Two months ago he tried to make Haxe for our food club guests to represent German food. Despite that it was his first attempt to make this dish, he nailed it! And since we are all stuck at home now, I requested him to make it again. But this time I want to eat it the Thai way. Instead of Sauerkraut, I made Thai cucumber salad and I replaced mustard with Jheaw dip. I normally couldn’t finish my Haxe when I order one in a restaurant. However, this time with the sides I like, let’s say “it was fingers licking good!”. 🤤👍
Ingredients:
Haxe
- 1 fresh pork knuckle
- 1 tsp pepper corns
- 1 tbsp salt for boiling the knuckle
- 1 tbsp salt for the baking rub
- 4 bay leaves
- 4 juniper berries
- 1 large onion
- 4 garlic cloves
Thai cucumber salad
- 1 large cucumber - 1 large red onion - 2 large fresh chili
- 3 tbsp vinegar / cider
- 1 1/2 tbsp sugar / cooking syrup
- 1 tsp salt
Jheaw dip
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp roasted rice powder
- 2 large shallot onion
- 1 spring onion
- 4 coriander leaves
Directions:
Haxe
- First, bring water to boil in a large pot. Then add the pork knuckle with all the seasoning & herbs, and let it simmer in a low heat for 90 minute.
- Second, heat up the oven to 200c. Remove the pork knuckle from the pot and use a sharp knife to incise the skin in a diamond pattern. Then rub the boiled pork knuckle with salt.
- Place the pork knuckle on a rack in a roasting pan, and bake for 90 minute.
- To crisp up the skin turn on the broiler for the last 5-10 minutes. Keep an eye on it because it can get burned quickly. The skin will crackle and get super crispy.
Thai cucumber salad
- Mix the vinegar, cooking syrup & salt together. If you are using normal sugar, bring it to boil on a stove first, to melt the sugar. Then leave it to cool down.
- Slice cucumber, red onion and chilis. Then pour the vinegar dressing on top of it, and mix it quickly.
Jheaw Dip
- Mix all the ingredients together, and that’s it!😁

Meat Dish, PorkHave A Feast