Smoked Pork Jowl Muffin ...WHAT?

[SilverlakeGirl]

I saw this intriguing recipe for Smoked Pork Jowl Muffins with Maple Glaze last night and just have to make them. Here they are ... great photos:

http://www.whatgeekseat.com/wordpress...

My question:

What else is pork jowl called? I have NEVER seen this cut in Los Angeles!!!

SLG

[bigrey]

As the others have said, the pronunciation depends on where you're from. As to the muffins, they are another version of meat filled muffins or bread, most often heralding from the south. I've seen recipes for muffins and corn bread with a variety of pork parts in them. "Cracklins" or chicharrones are also popular for this purpose. Mexican carnicerias and Asian meat markets are excellent places to find parts and cuts not found in most American markets, and usually at a fraction of the price. And the butchers in those places are usually happy to cut to order or special order if it's not on hand.

[GeekVanessa]

Go to http://www.willowcreekpork.com/ and give them a call or email. They'll ship some pork jowl to you. Give them a few days to get back to you as I think they may be out of town right now.

[SilverlakeGirl]

Thank you.

[Will Owen]

The "jole" pronunciation is standard both in Illinois, where I grew up, and Tennessee, where I ate an awful lot of it. I have not found it yet in the LA area (though I'm sure I could if I tried really hard), which is why our annual trip to Nashville always includes a stop at our old neighborhood grocery to stock up on that and other dry-cured and smoked pork products.

Those muffins are just evil! In a good way, mostly, though I think they'd be too sweet for my taste. I have used diced smoked jowl in plain cornbread, though, and that's a pleasure.

[Hungry Celeste]

Go over to the "brown side of town" and you'll find it. Smoked pig parts are easy to find in most supermarkets in african-american neighborhoods...smoked & pickled variety pig parts are essential to southern home cooking (aka soul food).

[srr]

It is also called guanciale. Go to a good Italian deli. They should have it.

[rworange]

No ... guanciale is cured, dried pork jowl. It is not the same as smoked pork jowl.

[rworange]

That's about all its called ... it is hog cheeks. Here's some info from Chow
http://www.chow.com/ingredients/464

Who knew it was pronounced 'jole'. I've been rhyming it with 'owl'. Go to a good butcher or store that sells smoked pork and they will know what it is.

[SilverlakeGirl]

Thanks. It's interesting that your link does indicate that it is somewhat of a regional item. I think it's time to get the butcher involved.

[oakjoan]

Wha? It's pronounced "jole"? Even though it's a jowl? Is this a regionalism?

Those muffins look so fantastic they put me in a good mood even after watching the last episode of The Sopranos (after not seeing it at all for 2 years)!

[pitu]

'jole' sounds like a marble-mouthed west virginian dude speaking, to me
or perhaps a swampy Florida good ol' boy
feysure, that is a bit of remaining regional dialect
elsewhere, jowl, with an *ow* like "ouch"

it's surely a cut you have to ask for, not hanging around the display case
smoked hocks are often tucked away like that too