German Pork with Savoury Potato Balls

Heat the oven to 190°C (170°C in a fan oven), 375°F, gas 5.

In a large pot bring 2.5 litres water to the boil and season with salt. Add the carrots, celeriac, leek, onion, bay leaves and spices and re-boil.

Place the meat in the boiling broth and simmer on a low heat for approx. an hour and 15 minutes. Scoop of the foam that rise to the top in the beginning.

Remove the meat from the broth and pierce the crust with a knife. Place the knuckles in a roasting tin and roast for an hour to 90 minutes. During the first 30 minutes baste the meat every so often with the ale. During the last 10 minutes turn on the grill to make the meat crispy. If necessary add some water from the broth to the roasting tin.

To make the dumplings boil the potatoes in their skins in salt water for approx. 25 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly, then peel them and put them through a potato ricer. Add the eggs, a pinch of nutmeg, some salt and two thirds of the flour and knead into a fluffy, easily malleable dough. If necessary, work in some more flour.

With floury hands, shape the dough into portions. Place the dumplings in boiling salt water and cook without a lid on a low heat for approx. 20 minutes.

Remove the meat from the roasting tin and loosen the juice from the dish with some ale or water. If necessary add some gravy thickener and season with salt and ground black pepper.