Romanian Pork Head Cheese (Tobă)
Romanian Pork Head Cheese (Tobă)
Ingredients
For the Pork Head Cheese
- 2 pork feet, cleaned
- 2 pork ears, cleaned
- 6 cups water, or enough to cover meat
- 1 tablespoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
For Serving
- 1/4 cup mustard, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Place the cleaned pork feet and pork ears into an Instant Pot. Add enough water to just cover the meat, approximately 6 cups. Stir in 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns, and 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Seal the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to the sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 1 hour.
⏱️ 60 min
- 3
Once cooking is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10-15 minutes, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure. Open the Instant Pot lid.
⏱️ 15 min
- 4
Carefully remove the tender pork meat (feet and ears) from the Instant Pot using tongs or a slotted spoon and place it in a bowl. Set aside to cool slightly. Strain the remaining broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a separate bowl to remove any solids. Skim any excess fat from the surface of the strained broth using a spoon.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Once the cooked pork meat has cooled enough to handle, use a knife and fork to separate the meat from any bones and cartilage. Discard the bones and cartilage. Finely chop or shred the meat into small, uniform pieces.
⏱️ 15 min
- 6
Transfer the chopped pork meat to a clean mixing bowl. Add the crushed garlic, additional salt (to taste, if needed), and freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Prepare a clean plastic bottle (such as a 1.5-liter water or soda bottle) by cutting off the top or cutting it lengthwise to create a mold. Spoon the flavored meat mixture into the prepared plastic bottle, packing it down gently but firmly to remove any air pockets.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Carefully pour the strained and defatted broth over the meat in the bottle, ensuring it fills all the gaps and reaches the top of the meat mixture. The meat should be completely submerged in the broth.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
Refrigerate the assembled head cheese in the bottle overnight, or until it is fully set and firm, typically 8-12 hours.
⏱️ 480 min
- 10
Once the Tobă is completely set, carefully cut away the plastic bottle to release the solid log of head cheese. Slice the Tobă into desired portions and serve, often accompanied by mustard.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Romanian Pork Head Cheese (Tobă)
Ingredients
For the Pork Head Cheese
- 2 pork feet, cleaned
- 2 pork ears, cleaned
- 6 cups water, or enough to cover meat
- 1 tablespoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
For Serving
- 1/4 cup mustard, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Place the cleaned pork feet and pork ears into an Instant Pot. Add enough water to just cover the meat, approximately 6 cups. Stir in 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns, and 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Seal the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to the sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 1 hour.
⏱️ 60 min - 3
Once cooking is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10-15 minutes, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure. Open the Instant Pot lid.
⏱️ 15 min - 4
Carefully remove the tender pork meat (feet and ears) from the Instant Pot using tongs or a slotted spoon and place it in a bowl. Set aside to cool slightly. Strain the remaining broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a separate bowl to remove any solids. Skim any excess fat from the surface of the strained broth using a spoon.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Once the cooked pork meat has cooled enough to handle, use a knife and fork to separate the meat from any bones and cartilage. Discard the bones and cartilage. Finely chop or shred the meat into small, uniform pieces.
⏱️ 15 min - 6
Transfer the chopped pork meat to a clean mixing bowl. Add the crushed garlic, additional salt (to taste, if needed), and freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Prepare a clean plastic bottle (such as a 1.5-liter water or soda bottle) by cutting off the top or cutting it lengthwise to create a mold. Spoon the flavored meat mixture into the prepared plastic bottle, packing it down gently but firmly to remove any air pockets.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Carefully pour the strained and defatted broth over the meat in the bottle, ensuring it fills all the gaps and reaches the top of the meat mixture. The meat should be completely submerged in the broth.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Refrigerate the assembled head cheese in the bottle overnight, or until it is fully set and firm, typically 8-12 hours.
⏱️ 480 min - 10
Once the Tobă is completely set, carefully cut away the plastic bottle to release the solid log of head cheese. Slice the Tobă into desired portions and serve, often accompanied by mustard.
⏱️ 5 min