Anyone smoking their own ham hocks?

[Monty House]

I have a family member that is terribly allergic to nitrates. I've been buying some really wonderful non-nitrate smoked ham shanks from Whole Foods, but they're $6/each. Was thinking about buying a case of frozen fresh ham hocks/shanks, then wet brining and smoking myself.

Anyone know if RD or other trade supply stores sell ham hocks by the case? Any good recipes for DIY ham hocks?

 

[K Kruger]

You can use any recipe you wish. The salt is the operative curing factor. If there is pink salt in the recipe replace it with an equivalent of salt. I suggest good sea salt. You can purée a stalk of celery or two to help fix the color.

After smoking place one or two hocks in a Ziploc and plunge into ice water - leaving the top of the bag open and making sure the top stays above the water surface - in order to cool quickly. When cold refrigerate or freeze till you need them.