A few tablespoons of gelatin are often added to jellies to make them thicken better, but those based on traditional recipes do not need such help – properly prepared, they will set on their own. One such dish is huspenina. With the recipe we propose, you will prepare delicious jelly that will not fall apart.
Huspenina is the Czech name for jelly. Traditional recipes do not use even an ounce of additional gelatin, and yet such a well hardens when cooled. To make it, you usually need pork, a few vegetables and spices. However, it is not a quick dish to prepare, but the taste makes up for the hours spent in the kitchen.
The basis of Czech well meat is meat containing a lot of collagen – skin, cartilage and joints. They release natural gelatin into the broth, which causes the jelly to thicken after cooling. In addition, slow simmering for several hours is also important.
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To prepare huspenina, you will need several salad bowls – you can also use a larger vessel or a deeper plate.
Ingredients:
- pork shank,
- 4 pork legs,
- 300 g pork shoulder,
- 3 bay leaves,
- 8 black peppercorns,
- 5 grains of allspice,
- 4 cloves of garlic,
- onion,
- 2 carrots,
- parsley,
- half celery,
- salt and vinegar to taste.
Preparation method:
Wash and clean the meat thoroughly. Then put them in a pot, pour water over them (so that the meat is submerged) and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Bring the broth to a boil, when it does, reduce the heat and skim off the foam. Add all spices and onion and garlic. Cook over low heat for an hour. Then add the pork shoulder to the broth and cook over low heat for another 2 hours. After this time, check the condition of the broth – pour some of it onto a cold plate and put it in the fridge. After several minutes, check whether it has thickened well. If not, cook the decoction for another half an hour and repeat the test.
If the broth thickens well, it is ready. Then strain it carefully – so as not to disturb the sediment at the bottom excessively. The strained broth should be cooked for another 20 minutes with root vegetables (carrots, parsley and celery). You can also add some vinegar to taste. While the broth is simmering with the vegetables, separate the skin from the meat and cut it into small pieces. You can also add the skin (prettier parts) to the well. After cooking the carrots, celery and parsley, cut them into cubes.
Place the meat and vegetables in salad bowls or other containers. Pour the broth over everything – so that the ingredients are covered with it. Place in the refrigerator at least overnight. You can serve huspenine with a little vinegar and fresh bread.
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Traditionally prepared Czech well will provide the body large doses of youth protein. Natural collagen contained in pork feet is an element very necessary for the body. It is what ensures good tissue strength and fills the space between cells. In addition, it binds water in tissues and participates in the process of blood clotting, wound healing and bone fusion.
This protein also helps alleviate the symptoms of osteoporosis (because it has a positive effect on bone condition). However, that’s not all – the changes caused by eating collagen can also be seen with the naked eye. Protein has a good effect on the condition of the skin and nailsdelays the aging process – its lack accelerates the formation of wrinkles.
Despite all these advantages, you should bear in mind that huspenine is quite caloric and has a lot of fats (which may affect blood cholesterol levels), therefore it should not be consumed in excess.
Sources: Terazgotuje.pl, novinky.cz
