Ham hock is an essential cornerstone of British cuisine, when you really think about it. From the simple pleasures of a good ham and cheese sandwich, to a glorious roast ham at Christmas, we often take the briny, fatty pleasure of a good piece of ham for granted. We associate ham hock with comfort food in this country, but our collection of ham hock recipes features some very technical dishes, as well as much-loved home classics.

If we're talking comfort food, it doesn't get much more comforting than Dominic Chapman's Ham hock macaroni cheese, but you can't go wrong with hearty bowl of Pea and ham soup either, or this Ham hock terrine with piccalilli from Galton Blackiston. If you're aiming to wow some friends with your kitchen prowess, there's lots you can do to elevate your simple ham hock and create something very refined. Matt Weedon's Chicken and ham terrine with pickled girolles, tarragon mayonnaise and honey mustard dressing makes a beautiful starter if you have plenty of preparation time, as does Geoffrey Smeddle's Pork cheek with crispy ham hock bon bon, crushed swede and mustard apple compote. For something a bit more left field, try Jeremy Pang's incredible Slow-braised ham hock in yellow bean sauce recipe – a traditional winter dish in Hong Kong.

There's plenty more inspiration on offer in our full collection of ham hock, courtesy of top British chefs like Nathan Outlaw, William Drabble and Colin McGurran. Scroll down and have a look.