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Meat, Northern, Eastern and Western France

Beer braised pork knuckle with steamed potatoes

Beer braised pork knuckle is a slow cooked dish for 4 people, easy to make in about 2 hours 45 minutes, at a cost of €3.40 per person. The meat braises for a long time in amber beer with juniper and clove until it turns fall apart tender. The key to success is patience during the slow braise and getting a good sear on the meat at the start.

A pork knuckle braised with spices in amber beer until fall apart tender, served with steamed potatoes.

Beer braised pork knuckle with steamed potatoes
Total time
2 h 45
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.40
Calories per person
560 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall

Beer braised pork knuckle turns an inexpensive cut of meat into something genuinely tender. The long, slow cooking breaks down the fibers until the meat falls off the bone with barely a touch of a knife. Amber beer brings a light bitterness that pairs well with the sweetness of the carrots and the subtle bite of mustard in the sauce.

This is a Sunday dish, or one for a day when you're home, since it needs time even if you're not actively watching it. Spices like juniper and clove sit quietly in the background, flavoring without taking over, so the taste stays familiar rather than exotic. This one is better suited to adults, the flavor is distinctive and not always the easiest to win kids over with.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Pork knuckle 1.4 kg

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 2
  • Carrots 3
  • Potatoes 900 g

Pantry

  • Amber beer 50 cl
  • Juniper berriesoften in the pantry 5
  • Clovesoften in the pantry 2
  • Mustardoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Bay leavesoften in the pantry 2
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Gluten, Mustard

The step by step recipe

  1. Brown the pork knuckle on all sides in oil in a Dutch oven. 12 min

    Take your time, the browning builds the flavor.

  2. Remove the knuckle, sauté the onions and carrots, then put the meat back in with the spices and bay leaves.

    Stud the onion with the cloves.

  3. Pour in the beer and a glass of water, cover and let braise over low heat. 2 h 30

    Turn the knuckle over halfway through cooking.

  4. Steam the potatoes and reduce the sauce with the mustard. 25 min

    Keep the sauce warm in a bowl.

  5. Serve the sliced knuckle with the potatoes and sauce.

    Carve it with a sharp knife, the meat should come apart in chunks.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use a pot with a tight fitting lid so the steam stays trapped inside through the whole braise.
  • If the sauce looks too thin at the end, take the knuckle out and reduce the liquid uncovered for a few more minutes before stirring in the mustard.
  • Check doneness by piercing the meat with a fork, it should slide in without resistance.

The variations

  • Swap the amber beer for a dark beer for a richer, darker sauce.
  • Add white mushrooms alongside the carrots for a deeper, more savory sauce.
  • For a faster version, use a pressure cooker and cut the braising time down to about 50 minutes.

What to serve it with

  • Steamed potatoes, already part of the recipe
  • Braised red cabbage
  • Extra grainy mustard on the side

Storage

The pork knuckle and its sauce keep for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. You can freeze the shredded meat with some sauce for up to 2 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the oven, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much.

Questions about this dish

Can you use a different beer instead of amber?

You can use a lager for a milder flavor, or vegetable broth with a splash of vinegar if you want to skip alcohol. The result will be less distinctive but the meat will still turn out tender.

Should the knuckle be deboned before cooking?

No, keep the bone in during braising, it adds flavor and body to the sauce. It comes out easily after cooking, once the meat has gone tender.

Can this dish be made a day ahead?

Yes, it's actually better that way, the flavor deepens after resting overnight in the fridge. Reheat gently over low heat the next day before serving.

Is juniper essential to this recipe?

It adds a subtle aroma typical of northern style braises, but you can skip it if you don't have any on hand. Clove and bay leaf alone are enough to flavor the sauce well.

How long does it take to make a beer braised pork knuckle with steamed potatoes?

Count 2 h 45 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a beer braised pork knuckle with steamed potatoes?

About 560 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a beer braised pork knuckle with steamed potatoes cost?

About €3.40 per serving, or €13.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, mustard. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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