WHAT IS IBÉRICO DE BELLOTA? Our Arturo Sánchez Paleta Ibérica de Bellota is made with the front legs of our acorn-fed 100% Ibérico pig with double montanera. This means that they are cured for a minimum of 24 months in our cellars in Guijuelo. The word 'bellota' literally means acorn, a key ingredient to the ultimate ham. If you see a paleta or jamon advertised as simply Ibérico, without the bellota designation, it is not free range and did not enjoy the sweet acorns of the dehesa rangelands. The paletas come from an ancient breed of pig, el cerdo Ibérico, which has been roaming the woodland meadows of western Spain for thousands of years, feeding on acorns. Each autumn the breeders set aside a select group of juvenile pigs allowing them to roam the dehesa woodlands for up to a year. There they feast upon acorns which are falling in abundance from the holm oak and cork trees. They gorge themselves, putting on at least two pounds of weight each day until they are the picture of a happy fat pig! The result is that the Paleta Ibérica de Bellota is marbled with rich, golden fat, full of the flavour of the Ibérico pigs' favourite food; bellota acorns, wild herbs and grasses. WHAT IS PALETA IBÉRICA? Paleta is the cured front shoulder ham. Because it is smaller, it cures much more quickly and has less time to age than a larger jamon (about two years, vs. three to four years for a ham). Our Arturo Sánchez Ibérico Bellota Shoulder weighs between 4 and 5Kg making it the perfect party feature. The size also makes this shoulder ideal for home consumption when you don't want a larger ham to carve. Cured for over two years, this shoulder ham (paleta ibérica) comes from acorn-fed, free range, Ibérico pork, only found in the Southwest region of Spain. The rich acorn diet and outdoor exercise marble the meat, for a succulent ham that melts in your mouth. HOW DO I PREPARE MY ARTURO SÁNCHEZ IBÉRICO DE BELLOTA SHOULDER? Sliced thinly, Ibérico ham glistens at room temperature and provides an unparalleled rich nutty flavour and tender texture. Because whole hams continue to cure until you cut into them, you can hang it for up to 12 months before its first use and it will only get better with time. At Basco, each ham we send is accompanied by care and handling instructions as well as ham carving tips. You can click here for a Ham Holder Stand and Ham Carving Knife which are necessary accessories in order to carve Spanish ham properly. HOW DO I STORE MY ARTURO SÁNCHEZ PALETA IBÉRICA DE BELLOTA? Store your Arturo Sánchez Paleta Ibérica in a cool, dry place. There is no cooking required. Unopened this ham can last 12 months. Once you peel the outer layer of skin, cover the meat with thin slices of fat and cling film to avoid air drying it and still store in a cool, dry place. Once opened, this shoulder ham can last up to one month if covered properly. If you are not eating the ham in one go, we recommend opening it in sections to prolong its shelf life. AVERAGE WEIGHT 4-1KG. PRODUCT INCLUDES FREE DELIVERY. PLEASE NOTE THAT WEIGHTS CAN VARY FROM HAM TO HAM, SO EXPECT A SLIGHT VARIATION ON THE WEIGHT OF YOUR HAM.
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