A true pig lover will extol the virtues and beauty of tasso pork until the cows return. Tasso ham, which is a prime pork cut from the shoulder of the pig, is juicy, soft and salty. It’s a delicious, rich, silky ham that everyone can enjoy.
Tasso Ham is usually prepared in the cajun style with lots of red peppers, garlic, and other herbs.
But that’s not all. There are many delicious dishes you can make when you cook with tasso pork. Check out these top tasso-ham recipes.
1. Smoke Your Tasso Ham Recipe
Before you can add tasso pork to all your cooking concoctions you need to learn how to make it.
Tasso Ham’s unique smoking method is what gives it its smokey flavor. This technique is easy to master at home.
This guide will show you how to make your own tasso-ham. Once you’ve mastered this step, you can experiment with any tasso-ham recipe you like.
2. Tasso Ham Jambalaya
Jambalaya is the most popular cajun food and we couldn’t publish a guide to tasso-ham cooking without it. Although the Jambalaya recipe from D’Artagnan may seem complex, it is well worth it.
You’ll still need to add your sausage and shrimp, but the real star is the tasso Ham. Tasso Ham Jambalaya is a great option for a party-friendly dish.
3. Tasso Ham Soup
A generous amount of tasso Ham will give any soup, chowder or bisque a comforting boost. You’ll need a soup recipe that can withstand the winter cold to get you through to spring.
@Louisiana_Woman, an Instagram soul food chef, has a great recipe for bean soup. It includes lots of diced up Tasso Ham. This recipe is a must-try.
4. Tasso Ham Pasta
Tasso ham is similar in texture, marbling and flavor to Italian meat staples like prosciutto and pancetta.
It shouldn’t surprise, then, that many classic Italian pasta dishes like carbonara make use of tasso pork. There are so many options, but Kenneth Nolan’s NOLA carbonara wins our vote.
5. Shrimp, Grits and Tasso
It would be wrong to talk about tasso-ham without giving credit to southern comfort food, shrimp and grits. Louisiana-style shrimp and grits include tasso Ham without exception.
Shrimp and grits are a labor of passion, but the right recipe can get you there. We recommend Bon Appetit’s Shrimp and Grits recipe for soul food beginners. It makes extensive use of the sweet, sweet tasso Ham.