Ham hock rillettes with pistachio salt

Step 1

Wash the ham hocks, put them in a large pan and cover with cold water. Add the coriander seeds, black peppercorns, bay leaf, onion, carrot, celery and chives. Cover with a lid and simmer the ham for 3-4 hours, or until the meat comes away from the bone.

Step 2

Remove the ham from the poaching liquid with a slotted spoon and leave until it’s cool enough to handle. Once cooled, remove the skin from the ham and, with clean hands, shred the meat into small chunks.

Step 3

Mix the butter, parsley and thyme in a bowl, then add the shredded ham, and season with salt and pepper. Pack the mixture into a sealable container, smoothing over the surface. Cover and leave in the fridge overnight.

Step 4

Toast the pistachios in a pan over a medium heat until golden, then grind them in a small blender with a pinch of sea salt flakes.

Step 5

To serve, leave the rillettes out of the fridge for 20 minutes, to soften, then heap a spoonful each onto plates and sprinkle the pistachio salt on top. Serve with toasted crusty bread, drizzled with a little olive oil.