Re-Discovering Lost Cuts: Roasted Hand of Pork and Creative Ways to Eat the Leftovers

Last weekend, my gf and I were mulling around the farmer's market in Beckenham, and of course were drawn like magnets to a bustling butcher's stall. Here we found a huge joint of 'Pork Hand.' It's sort of leg and shoulder and tastes like a cross between ham and shoulder - gorgeous!

The first night we roasted it (but you need to be prepared to put in the hours with this one as it needs a lot of cooking). It's pretty simple to get it right though and a perfect Sunday dinner:

1. Season the underside with salt and pepper; Sear the skin and rub in ample salt; 
2. Sear the skin in a pan; chuck in on a baking tray, cover and put in the oven at 150 degrees; 
3. Go to the pub; 
4. Check in two hours; remove cover if it needs crisping up; 
5. Go back to the pub; 
6. Return in two hours; rest (the pork not yourself); boil some potatoes for mashing and fresh spring greens; serve with gravy. Yum.

Scoffing the leftovers....

My favourite has been a sort of Southern, pulled pork with kidney beans that I whipped up this morning, so quick and easy it was done by the time I was out of the shower and ready to be packed into little takeaway containers:

1. drain a can of kidney beans but don't rinse. Cover with a little water and add about two teaspoons of fajita mix. Boil.
2. Shred the pork and mix in some Cajun spice.
3. Pack both into separate containers.
4. When lunchtime comes, heat both on a place for 2.30 mins (stirring half way through).
5. Serve with hot sauce, salsa, gauc and sour cream (or eat as it is, whatever you prefer).

So tasty, I'll be having it again tomorrow, that's if I can keep my work colleagues away from it!