French Head Cheese, Fromage de Tete
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5.0
12 reviews
Excellent
French Head Cheese, Fromage de Tete
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This recipe may sound like a big pain, but it really isn't that hard. There is virtually no technical skill necessary, although it will take you a full day to make your head cheese. Do it in a weekend, and you will have lunch meat for the following week. I also love a slice of fromage de tete while watching television, served with homemade mustard and various pickled things, with a piece of good bread and a beer nearby. Now that's my idea of a good TV dinner.
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Ingredients
- 1 pig's head, skin on or off is fine, including ears
- 4 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon cracked black peppercorns
- 8 to 10 allspice berries, cracked
- 8 to 16 juniper berries, crushed (optional)
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 star anise, optional
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 cup wine, any kind will do
- salt
- 1 tablespoon French quatre epices
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Instructions
- Once your pig head has been skinned, or is otherwise ready, put it in a large pot and cover with cool water. Add the ears if you have them, or a pig's foot or two; you want these appendages because they add a lot of collagen to the broth, which helps everything set later. Turn the heat to medium-high, cover the pot and bring it to a simmer. Skim any scum that floats to the surface, then add all the herbs and spices and vegetables. Pour in the vinegar, too. Simmer this very gently -- the surface should just shimmy rather than boil -- until the head basically falls apart. Definitely 3 hours, and probably closer to 5 or 6.
- Now you have the awesomely fun job of picking everything off this dead pig's head. It's actually kind of a pleasant surprise to see how much actual meat is on the thing, but remember you also want fat and some cartilaginous bits, too. My rule: The weirder it looks, the smaller it gets chopped. Cheeks and other bits of meat I chop rather roughly, and the tongue -- after it's been peeled, of course -- gets cut into the largest pieces of all.
- I generally toss stringy tendons, the eyeballs (although the fat behind the eye is awesome), the palate, and any random bits I can't really identify.
- Put all this in a bowl and add the quatre epices. Mix well and turn your attention to the broth.
- Take about a quart of the broth, strain it and put it into a pot with the wine. I used vermouth here, as this is a French fromage du tete. Boil the crap out of it until the liquid reduces by a little less than half.
- Put all the meat and such into the pot. Now you add salt -- finally, right? You may need a solid tablespoon, but start small. Taste the mixture: You want it to be a little salty and slightly acidic. Add some more red wine vinegar if you want to; I added about 2 tablespoons. Simmer gently for another 15 minutes. This infuses all the yummy bits with the collagen-rich broth.
- Remove all the yummy bits with a slotted spoon and pack into a loaf pan or terrine pan. Make sure it's nice and even in the pan. Pour enough of the reduced broth to fill any crevices in the fromage, plus enough to pool just a little on the top of the meat. Now cover the fromage and let it chill in the fridge overnight to set.
- Eat with mustard and pickled things. Sauerkraut and bread are good combinations, too, if you want to be more Germanic -- remember Alsace-Lorraine is basically a hybrid of the two countries if you are worried about feeling authentic. Covered, the fromage will keep for a week to 10 days. It does not freeze well, however.
Notes
- You can do this with any large animal's head, including fish. I've done it with the heads from doe deer -- antlers can be tough to fit in the pot -- and I see no reason you can't do it with lamb, goats or calves or whatnot.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
44kcal
(2%)
Carbohydrates
4g
(1%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
2mg
(1%)
Sodium
19mg
(1%)
Potassium
128mg
(4%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
2095IU
(42%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
26mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 44 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 44kcal | 2% |
| Carbohydrates | 4g | 1% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 2mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 19mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 128mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 2095IU | 42% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 26mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
12 reviews
Excellent
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