easy smoked ham hocks with smoky whole-grain mustard

prep time: 5 minutes, plus time to rest the mustard cook time: 10 minutes • yield: 4 servings

This recipe is extremely easy to make. It uses smoked ham hock steaks. Because they’re already cooked, all you need to do is heat them up until their skin gets crispy (though they taste great cold, too). Just remember to make the mustard the day before you plan to eat the hocks. It needs time in the fridge to allow the flavors to develop.

smoky whole-grain mustard:

¼ cup prepared yellow mustard

¼ cup brown mustard seeds

2 tablespoons Swerve confectioners’-style sweetener or equivalent amount of liquid or powdered sweetener ( see here )

¼ cup coconut vinegar or apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons chili powder

½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

½ teaspoon liquid smoke

4 (3-ounce) smoked ham hock steaks

2 cups sauerkraut, warmed, for serving

Cornichons or other pickles of choice, for serving

1. To make the mustard: In a small bowl, stir together the prepared mustard, mustard seeds, sweetener, vinegar, chili powder, and pepper. Stir in the melted coconut oil and liquid smoke; mix well to combine. Refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to blend before using.

2. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the smoked ham hocks on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or until the skin gets crispy.

3. Place each ham hock on a plate with ½ cup sauerkraut and 2 to 4 tablespoons of the smoky mustard.

4. Store extras in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place in a skillet over medium heat and sauté for 3 minutes per side, or until warmed to your liking.

tip: To save money and time spent running to the market, I get a whole pasture-raised pig from a local farmer to keep in our chest freezer. One of the best parts is that I get to choose the cuts of meat my family likes best and have them readily available in my freezer whenever I need them! Of course, you don’t need to purchase a pig to make this dish—just stop by your local butcher to purchase smoked ham hock steaks to store in your freezer for easy breakfasts or dinners.