| Posted by | Message |
nikki6 
New Orleans Saints Fan
Dallas
Member since Jul 2011
1582 posts
| Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 11:47 am)
I'm living in Dallas now and wanting to make a big pot of red beans. I usually add sausage and pickle meat, along with the trinity. Here in Dallas, pickle meat is impossible to find. I've tried using salt pork b/c I see it in the grocery, but it was way too salty. Also it was very fatty. If I can't find pickle meat, which it looks like I can't, what is a good substitute or should I just stick with sausage alone?
|
| Back to top | Share on  |
Y.A. Tittle 
LSU Fan
Member since Sep 2003
44051 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 11:48 am to nikki6)
Ham? 
|
| Back to top | |
AreJay
Member since Aug 2005
4032 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 11:51 am to nikki6)
make that stuff! google for recipes. If you cut it into chunks first, you can sit in in your pickling liquid for a few days and it'll be ready to go
|
| Back to top | |
Tigerpaw123 
USA Fan
P'ville
Member since Mar 2007
7565 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 12:01 pm to nikki6)
I would just use smoked sausage, but you could also add in some smoked Boston butt
|
| Back to top | |
kingbob
LSU Fan
St. Amant, LA
Member since Nov 2010
8979 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 12:05 pm to Tigerpaw123)
Richard's crazy cajun sausage
|
| Back to top | |
hobotiger
LSU Fan
Hoboken, NJ
Member since Nov 2007
2380 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 12:45 pm to nikki6)
Don't use salt pork, I used it once and it made my beans inedible
|
| Back to top | |
CITWTT
LSU Fan
baton rouge
Member since Sep 2005
25186 posts
 Online
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 12:54 pm to nikki6)
Pancetta
|
| Back to top | |
nikki6
New Orleans Saints Fan
Dallas
Member since Jul 2011
1582 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 1:22 pm to CITWTT)
Yes, the salt pork made them horrible.
Will experiment with the other suggestions. I'd just use sausage, but the pickle meat gave the beans more flavor I think. Pancetta sounds like a good idea.
Also, will be cooking my beans in beer. I know it sounds weird, but my cousin cooked the absolute best red beans I've ever tasted, on New Year's Eve and when asking him what he put in them he said the usual, but then said he cooked them in beer. I thought he was kidding, but he wasn't. I tried it out with some Michelob Ultra that was in my fridge and even with that shitty beer, they came out wonderful. I'm not sure why beer would make red beans taste amazing, but it sure does.
|
| Back to top | |
Lloyd Christmas
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2005
3396 posts
Online
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 1:28 pm to nikki6)
quote:
Good Substitute for Pickle Meat?
maybe those pickled hot sausages in the convenience stores?
|
| Back to top | |
Y.A. Tittle
LSU Fan
Member since Sep 2003
44051 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 1:36 pm to nikki6)
I don't cook them completely in beer, but I always add some to the pot. Usually about 6-12 oz, depending on how much I'm cooking.
|
| Back to top | |
dpd901
LSU Fan
Thibodaux
Member since Apr 2011
1386 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 1:43 pm to nikki6)
The secret to Salt Pork is to boil it for 30-45 minutes in a seperate pot of water. It takes out the excess salt. All I use in my white beans and I'd take the Pepsi Challenge with anyone.
|
| Back to top | |
hungryone
LSU Fan
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
350 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 2:16 pm to dpd901)
Have you been to an, ahem, "ghetto" supermarket in Dallas? You need to find a supermarket catering to an African American lower to middle class clientele, and you will find pickled pork. Alternatively, find a Winn Dixie and ask them to order some for you. Local WDs carry 3-5 brands of pickled pork, vacuum sealed. I'm sure a Dallas WD can order a case and sell you a single package.
|
| Back to top | |
OTIS2
LSU Fan
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
18500 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 2:21 pm to hungryone)
God have mercy. This damn far into this theard and no one has said smoked ham hocks? Really? And pancetta...paying for pancetta to go in a pot of frickin beans? Am I the only one who freezes leftover ham just for this reason?
|
| Back to top | |
Mung
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2007
2578 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 2:27 pm to OTIS2)
smoked ham hocks are great. Or got to one of those honey ham stores that makes sandwiches and buy a hambone. There is usually enough meat on there for a pound of red beans.
|
| Back to top | |
nikki6
New Orleans Saints Fan
Dallas
Member since Jul 2011
1582 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 3:03 pm to Mung)
They don't have an Winn Dixies in Dallas. We have Albertsons, Kroger, Tom Thumb, Whole Foods, Central Market and Fiesta. I don't even know where a "ghetto" supermarket is around here. I've seen many Asian markets and Latin/Mexican type grocery stores around though.
Ham hocks is a great idea too. In case ya'll can't tell, I'm not the greatest cook. I learned how to make red beans one way and have to stuck to that way, except now I don't live in Nola.
Thanks for all of the suggestions! 
|
| Back to top | |
Stadium Rat
LSU Fan
Metairie
Member since Jul 2004
2735 posts
Online
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 5:17 pm to nikki6)
Alton Brown has a recipe for it. It was on the "Red Beans and Rice" show for people like you who can't buy it locally.
|
| Back to top | |
tewino
Member since Aug 2009
320 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 7:56 pm to hungryone)
quote:
Have you been to an, ahem, "ghetto" supermarket in Dallas? You need to find a supermarket catering to an African American lower to middle class clientele
Do you have a Piggly Wiggly in Dallas? 
|
| Back to top | |
nikki6
New Orleans Saints Fan
Dallas
Member since Jul 2011
1582 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/6/13 at 10:05 pm to tewino)
I haven't seen one, but maybe I need to go to the hood. I'm not even sure where that is here.
|
| Back to top | |
LEASTBAY
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2007
2279 posts
| re: Good Substitute for Pickle Meat? (Posted on 2/7/13 at 12:10 am to nikki6)
Ham hocks or smoked turkey necks
|
| Back to top | |
