Gammon Steaks

[sherrardk]

Can I use gammon steak instead of lardons (so I can cut all the fat off)? Thanks.

[mazie]

What are you using it for Sher? Often the fat on the lardons help the recipe

[nungate]

I personally wouldn't substitute gammon steaks for lardons as you need the little bits of fat to add flavour. The fat tends to render down when they are cooked so you get tasty little nuggets of bacon-y-ness! Speaking as someone who can't stomach any fatty kind of meat, even I can eat them, so if you (or your brood of little ones) can't abide fatty meat you might just be able to get away with using lardons and save the gammon for another day

[woofgang]

If you don't want to use lardons, I would be doing a different recipe....its kind of like wanting fat free roast potatoes.

[sherrardk]

I was going to make a chicken and bacon savoury pancake thing. Ordinary bacon is too skinny to bulk the pancakes out but lardons will have too much fat on for my lot. Maybe I need a re-think on next week's meals.

[humbersloop]

sher, don't be wasting gammon in a pancake - gently cook the lardons and you can fry a bit of onion with them without any extra oil

[woofgang]

for that you could use a gammon steak instead. Make sure not to add too much extra salt to the dish. I have made chicken and bacon pie filling (similar) with leftover chicken and a gammon steak or bacon chop.

[sherrardk]

Hi all, th gammon is the same price as the lardons. There's rarely any leftovers and certainly never enough to make another meal from. I don't put slat in anything except for veg, pasta, etc when it's cooking.

[echokilo]

No reason why that gammon won't work fine in a chicken and bacon savory pancake .... and I agree ... a lot less fat ..... give it a go!! I often make Tartiflette a French potato dish which calls for lardons and have used gammon, back bacon and ham instead ... same effect, and healthier! Cooking is about experimenting for me!! The savory pancake sounds fab ..... do you just make the filling and use something like an oatcake, or is there more to it? (I want one now!!)

[sherrardk]

Hi Echo, never made them before. Was going to make some pancakes (mine are very thin), and then mix in some cooked chicken, whatever ham/bacon I decide on and maybe some sweet corn or peas. Then I was going to cover in a light cheese sauce, some grated cheese and chuck it in the oven. Maybe served with some green beans or broccoli. I don't like to experiment too much as I worry about someone going hungry.

[Iluvspikey]

rather than using expensive meat for things like this, it's ideal when at the supermarket to buy the ends of the joints and rolls of meat from the deli,, they are usually cheaper, for £1.50 I had chunks of ham, a piece of cooked beef and some turkey roll and cooked chicken. It's usefull for quiches, soups, jacket potato fillings, fritatta's (Spanish omelettes) risottos etc.

[boxtops]

ooh, I love frittata!

[sherrardk]

Hi, it doesn't work out expensive for us as it will serve six (I don't tend to eat with everyone else). It will come in at under £1 a head and should contain plenty of good stuff.

[Smowball]

Your meals always sound lovely!

[sherrardk]

Right, made them (used one gammon steak for the bacon part). Very well received but a right pain to do (make pancakes, make cheese sauce, blah, blah) - didn't help that thing 2 was home from school and wanted to 'help'. Very rich too so they will have to become a special sort of meal rather than a school night one.