Darra Goldstein

Fresh Ham Cooked with Hay

Буженина

Preparation info
  • About

    20

    Servings
    • Difficulty

      Medium

Appears in
A Taste of Russia
A Taste of Russia

By Darra Goldstein

Published 1983

  • About

Hay may be obtained from local stables or farms, but if it is not available, then simply skip the first steps involving hay, though the boiled meat will lose a certain subtlety of flavor. A “must” for the Easter table!

Ingredients

  • 1 fresh ham (12 to 14 pounds)
  • 4 large handfuls of hay

Method

Rinse the meat. Place it in a very large stockpot with the hay and enough cold water to fill the pot. Bring the water to a rolling boil, then remove the pot from the heat and let stand for 15 minutes. Return the pot to the heat and bring to a new boil, then let stand off the heat for 15 minutes more.

Repeat this procedure one more time, bringing the water to a boil a third time. This ti