Recipe for crispy roasted pork knuckle that falls apart with a fork

Name: Recipe for crispy roasted pork knuckle that falls apart with a fork
Prep time: 170 min
Cook time: 170 min
Total time: 170 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 pork knuckles (each approx. 1 kg); 2 tablespoons salt; 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon whole caraway seeds; 1 teaspoon crushed caraway seeds; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; 4 cloves garlic, chopped; 2 onions; 2 bay leaves; 1 carrot (optional); 1 celery stalk (optional); 500 ml water or stock; beer for basting (optional)

i-Recipe.comRecipesRecipe for crispy roasted pork knuckle that falls apart with a fork

(0)

Easy to prepare
4 serving
170 minutes

Jan, 09. 01. 2026

Print recipe

Roasted pork knuckle is one of the biggest staples of Czech cuisine and rightfully stands alongside other popular meat classics. If you like hearty oven dishes, we definitely recommend checking other recipes in the meat recipes category, where you’ll find inspiration for weekend lunches and festive dinners. This recipe for crispy roasted knuckle is tried-and-true, simple and results in juicy meat with a perfectly puffed crust.

For 4 serving

Ingredients

For the roasted knuckle:

4 pork knuckles (each approx. 1 kg)
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon whole caraway seeds
1 teaspoon crushed caraway seeds
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 onions
2 bay leaves
1 carrot (optional)
1 celery stalk (optional)
500 ml water or stock
beer for basting (optional)

Preparation procedure

Thoroughly wash and dry the pork knuckles. Score the skin with a sharp knife in a crosshatch or parallel cuts. This step is essential for creating crispy skin.
In a bowl, mix the salt, pepper, whole and crushed caraway, sweet paprika and chopped garlic. Carefully rub the mixture over the knuckles on all sides, including the cuts in the skin.
Spread the onion sliced into rings on the bottom of the roasting pan, add the carrot, celery and bay leaf. This base will prevent burning and give the drippings a full flavor.
Place the knuckles in the roasting pan, pour in water or stock and cover with foil. Roast at 160 °C for 2–2.5 hours. During roasting, baste the meat several times with the drippings, or with a little beer.
Once the meat has softened, remove the foil, increase the temperature to 220 °C and roast for another 20–30 minutes, until the skin turns golden and begins to puff up. For maximum crispiness, you can turn on the grill for the last 5 minutes.

Quick information

Servings: 4 servings
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total time: approx. 2 hours 50 minutes

Crispy roasted pork knuckle is a dish that perfectly captures honest Czech cuisine. A properly roasted knuckle will fill the whole apartment with aroma, satisfy the entire family and create an atmosphere you remember. If you enjoy traditional meat dishes, it’s definitely worth trying this recipe and making it a staple of your home cooking.