As we travel, we come across cultural cuisines unique to certain regions. We’ve had lobster rolls in the Northeast, crawfish in Louisiana, poutine in Canada, and sopapillas in the Southwest, just to name a few but we’ve neve come across Hog Head Cheese, until now.
However, it looked nothing like the cheeses we had seen before. What was this meat-looking mush? Today, we’re diving into the history of hog head cheese and clearing up the misconception of this European delicacy!
Where Did Hog Head Cheese Originate?
In many places around the world, the entire animal is used for food. This isn’t just an indigenous practice, although these people provide excellent examples. Native Americans often killed buffalo for its meat. Granted, they also used the horns for tools, weapons, and cooking utensils. They used the hide and fur for clothing, floor mats, and shelter.
Commonly in other locations, different cultures use the organs, feet, tongue, and other body parts we’d usually cast aside in their food. For poorer communities, this eliminates waste and feeds more people for longer.
Head cheese is an example of how every part of the animal – head to tail – is combined into the product. Meat jellies like hog head cheese were common peasant foods dating back to the Middle Ages.
These meat jellies originated in Europe where many countries still have variations of head cheese today. Different countries use different ingredients, but the concept is still the same. For example, Greeks include vinegar in head cheese, while some Germans add pickles. Hungarians often smoke head cheese rather than eat it at room temperature.
How Is Hog Head Cheese Made?
The name hog head cheese is misleading because it’s not a dairy product. There is no cheese. Rather, the “cheese” comes from the European method of pressing the ingredients into a solid, which is called “cheesing.”
Hog head cheese is traditionally made from boiled pig’s head meat. You won’t find brains or eyes in your hog head cheese. It’s then formed into a jellied loaf that may include other body parts like feet, tongue, or heart. This is where different countries add their own special ingredients. Pig’s head is high in collagen; therefore the meat produces a natural gelatin to bind the ingredients together.
What Does Hog Head Cheese Taste Like?
Depending on the other ingredients, hog head cheese has many different flavors. You’ll certainly taste pork, but you’ll also savor spices like paprika or vegetables like jalapenos. If you eat the pickled form of hog head cheese, there will be a mild sourness. But the taste depends on the added ingredients. It’s very flavorful, which is why hog head cheese is often paired with bread or crackers.
How Is Hog Head Cheese Served?
Hog head cheese is usually eaten cold or at room temperature. Some people eat it on a sandwich or crackers. In some places, you’ll find hog head cheese served on a charcuterie board. In the U.S., you’ll likely see it served on a sandwich like a po’boy. Louisiana is particularly famous for serving hog head cheese.
HOT TIP
If you’re spending some time in Louisiana, be sure to read about this New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl before visiting the Pelican State!
Where Can You Buy Hog Head Cheese?
If you’re looking to try hog head cheese, we suggest finding it in a restaurant where it’s served fresh. Creole options in Louisiana often serve dishes with this meat jelly. Although, you can also purchase hog head cheese on Amazon. Richard’s, Stiglmeier, and Manda are three brands.
Some grocery stores, like Meijer, will also sell hog head cheese. You can also find hog head cheese in European restaurants or businesses. For example, you can order from Polana or the Hermann Wurst Haus.
Would You Try Hog Head Cheese?
We find the story behind hog head cheese interesting, especially since it’s not cheese at all! There are also health benefits to eating head cheese because of its high collagen content. Collagen-rich foods can help build healthier, stronger tissues, which is critical as we age and our bones and muscles become weaker.
Despite this, for many people, eating a pig’s head just isn’t tolerable. It sounds too disgusting and too foreign. So, would you try hog head cheese? Or is the name enough to keep you from buying this meat jelly?
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