ham bone--where to find without buying a whole ham?

[Anonymous]

I'd really like to make green split pea soup. The best ones I've tasted have used a ham bone, but I really don't want to buy a huge ham just for the bone. Do they sell these separately at the grocery store? I've never seen them.

I could probably use bacon as an alternative, but thought I'd ask if anyone has a suggestion. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Don't you just buy a ham hock? I'm not a soup or a ham expert, but I thought that's what you used.

[Anonymous]

Salt pork is commonly used.

[Anonymous]

With salt pork or the ham hock do you have to boil it to release some of the salt?

[Anonymous]

A ham hock or a big piece of slab bacon will work just fine.

If you want little pieces of ham in it, you can also add a diced up 8 ounce ham steak you can buy at the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

Bethesda farmer's market (Sunday mornings.)

[Anonymous]

You can ask the butcher at the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

yes, you could use a ham hock or salt pork but absolutely nothing flavors like the bone for soups and stews. wish I could help but I've been looking for a couple of years myself. Only thing I have found are ones they have seasoned for dogs.

[Anonymous]

I think they have them at the butcher counter, but maybe they don't.

[Anonymous]

I use a ham hock. It has bone in it, plus some meat on it, that flakes off nicely for chopping and adding back to the soup. I get the ham hocks from South Mountain Creamery, but if you ask at the butcher counter your grocery store they might have some in back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I use a ham hock. It has bone in it, plus some meat on it, that flakes off nicely for chopping and adding back to the soup. I get the ham hocks from South Mountain Creamery, but if you ask at the butcher counter your grocery store they might have some in back.

Yes, I just made the most marvelous split pea soup with smoked ham hock, don't bother with the raw ham hock.

I too was able to get some yummy salty meat off the ham hock at the end. The only thing with the bone, is I think it would be a bit healthier. The fat in the ham hock bothers me, but it sure does make it rich and yummy.

[Anonymous]

I see them sometimes in the grocery store. Otherwise, you can go to the deli counter and ask for a slab of ham cut off the deli meat. I get a 1/4 lb or 1/2 lb chunk sliced off the ham then cube it to put in peas or beans.

[Anonymous]

I would call around to the local grocery stores and ask the butcher shop if they have them and what days. They probably have a few days a week when they butcher the hams and could set one aside for you.

[Anonymous]

"I had to go so far girl to get my ham bones boiled. Had to go so far girl to get my ham bones boiled. Well, he's had a lotta women, gonna let my ham bones burn."

Eric Clapton-Motherless Child

[Anonymous]