What is Head Cheese?
Head cheese, also known as brawn is a cold cut more popular in Europe than other continents. It is served as is or with bread and condiments. Head cheese is made from the head of the pig, not all parts, but ears are included There are two versions, the original one is set in aspic and has a very gelatinous texture with small chunks of meat suspended in the gelatin. This version is large and rectangular. The other version is round, made from ground meat, and has a reddish color, sans the gelatinous texture. The flavors of each are pleasant, salty, and flavored with mild spices. Best served cool or at room temperature.
Ingredients
Pork is a term for any meat that comes from a pig. The main cuts are the shoulder, loin, leg and side belly. Raw pork is pink and often has a white trim of fat, or dots of fat. The texture is moist and and semi-firm. Pork is used to make bacon, sausage, salami and other various meat products. Pork can be bought and used ground, or in specific cuts, such as for pork tenderloin, a delicate cut of meat, with a lower fat content. Pork is known for being a fatty meat and has a full flavor that is enhanced by salt and spices. Pork should always be cooked thoroughly before consuming.
Ground beef can be made from any cut of beef, though commonly the chuck steak and round steak are used. Chuck steak has a good meat to fat ratio, creating a savory and succulent burger or meatball. Ground beef is a reddish color and formed into thick "strands" from the meat grinder, with a soft and very pliable texture. Ground beef should be cooked before consuming.
Water is a substance and chemical compound made up of hydrogen and oxygen. It is clear, fluid, flavorless and odorless. Water is a necessity in nearly every aspect of life, including cooking, baking and hydrating the human body. Water can be served as a cold beverage, or at any temperature comfortable to the mouth and skin.
Salt is a mineral composed mostly of sodium chloride. It is the main flavoring used in food and is naturally occurring in certain foods, such as cheese, beets, meat and celery, plus many others. Salt is white and has finer granules than sugar. Many commercial salts include iodide, while others exclude it. Most salts are white, while some are naturally pale pink with minerals. Salt brings out the flavor of something and can create a tangy mouthfeel, if used in excess.
Sugar comes from sugar cane and sugar beets. The sugar is extracted from the juice of both plants and refined into the granulated substance known as sugar. Sucrose, the sweet substance of sugar is a combination of glucose and fructose. White sugar is composed of tiny white, dry granules. The flavor is sweet and neutral. Brown sugar is brown and has more moisture, with a richer flavor that hints at molasses. Sugar is used in both sweet and savory foods.
Sodium citrate is a compound made from citric acid and has a white crystalline structure, similar to salt. It is used in food production as a preservative and flavoring agent. It reduces the acidity of foods and adds a flavor that is both salty and sour.
Gelatin is an ingredient used in food production to create a jello-like consistency. Gelatin is obtained from the bones and connective tissue of farm animals; such as pigs and cows. It is cream colored and comes powdered or in granules. Gelatin is used to create jiggly texture in desserts and some savory foods and to thicken sauces, puddings, yogurt and add form to gummy candies. It is flavorless and odorless and is the main ingredient in popular American jello.
There are a number of spices used in cooking and baking. Spices generally refer to a variety of seeds, barks, fruits and roots that are used to add specific flavors to food. Some spices are sweet, spicy, pungent or savory. The flavors range greatly and spices can be used whole or ground and are usually cooked, but generally cooking them is not required.
Sodium diacetate is a food additive used to maintain pH and as a souring agent to impart a flavor similar to vinegar or pickles. This product is made with acetic acid and sodium acetate or sodium carbonate through a specific high speed stirring process. The product is white and powdery with a sour taste.
The onion is a bulb vegetable, meaning its bulb and not its leaves are eaten. Onions come in many varieties, including white, yellow and red. Shallots are small and mild onions. Vidalias are sweet, while red onions are strong and sharp. The onion is usually round and has a thin dry skin around its juicy layers. This skin depends in the color of the onion, as does the flesh. The flesh, or body of the onion is made of multiple round layers, that get smaller towards the center. The flavor of onions are sharp and sweet when raw, with an astringent taste. When cooked, these flavors mellow and the sweetness emerges. Onion are a very common flavoring and ingredient for many savory dishes.
Garlic is used in cuisines around the world and is extremely popular for its depth of flavor. The garlic bulb forms underneath the soil and is harvested once it reaches maturity. The bulb typically has thin, dry, white and flaky skin, surrounding the individual cloves. Often there are 10-12 cloves to a bulb/head of garlic. The cloves are cream colored with a strong smell and flavor that is spicy and sharp. Garlic takes on a nutty flavor in addition, when cooked. It is used in countless dishes, sauces, breads and more.
Sodium nitrite is an inorganic salt compound that is used as an additive in food production to help preserve and work as an antimicrobial. It is commonly used in preserved meats. Sodium nitrite is a white granulated substance that is used in small amounts.
