The h2g2 Post Recipe
Created | Updated Jun 10, 2004
This week we feature another recipe in the Pennsylvania series.
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Ham Loaf
Ham loaf is one of those things you'll occasionally find on the menu in a restaurant in Pennsylvania that people who have not been exposed to Pennsylvania Dutch culture will skip over enroute to a hamburger.
Big mistake.
Ham loaf is a wonderful pork-based culinary experience not to be missed. It is served in schools, restaurants and at dinner meetings. It is such a phenomena that some butcher shops even make their own brand of frozen ham loaf that simply requires a bit of reheating.
Of course, it's best when prepared at home using fresh ingredients purchased at the local butcher's shop.
Serving suggestions vary. Some folks will serve it with mashed potatoes and gravy with some type of green vegetable. Others will serve it with baked macaroni and cheeseand a veggie. Either way, you can't go wrong.
The following recipe is the traditional way one Researcher's family prepares ham loaf. Many preparations do without the sticky, sweet caramel-like glaze, but we're including it since an essential part of Pennsylvania Dutch cooking involves the combination of salty and sweet flavours into one dish.
Enjoy!
The Recipe
Combine the following ingredients well and shape into a loaf, placing it in a roasting pan with a lid.
- 3/4 pounds ground pork
- 3/4 pounds ground ham
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 1/2 cup of fine moist bread crumbs
- salt and pepper to taste
When the loaf is in the pan, mix the following in a bowl and pour over top of the ham loaf.
- 1 cup of packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of dry mustard
- 1/4 cup of water
- 1/4 cup of vinegar
Cover the baking pan and cook at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting the ham loaf with the liquid every 15 minutes.
