German Pork Hock (Schweinshaxe Recipe)

German Pork Hock, also known as roasted ham hock or Schweinshaxe, is a traditional Bavarian dish that's popular not only during the Oktoberfest but all year round. This easy pork knuckle recipe takes a few hours but cooks without too much effort on your part and rewards you with crispy pork crackling and tender meat.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 pork knuckles (fresh, uncured, unsmoked)
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 4 bay leaves
• 4 juniper berries
• 1 large onion (peeled and quartered)
• 1 tbsp caraway seeds
• salt

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Bring water in a big pot to a boil, add 2 tsp salt, quartered onions, peppercorns, bay leaves, and juniper berries. Turn down the temperature so that the water is still hot but not simmering and submerge the pork hocks. They should be covered with water. Let them cook at a low temperature for 90 minutes. The water should not boil or simmer.
2. 2After 90 minutes use tongs to remove the pork knuckles from the water and use a sharp knife to incise the skin in a diamond pattern.
3. 3Preheat oven to 390°F (200°C) and rub the pork knuckles with caraway seeds and salt. Place the hocks on a rack in a roasting pan and bake for about 90 minutes in the middle of the oven. Turn the pork hocks after 45 minutes.
4. 4To crisp up the skin turn on the broiler for the last 5-10 minutes. Keep an eye on them because the skin can get burned pretty quickly. It will crackle and get super crispy.
5. 5Serve immediately!