Jambalaya Question- Pork Temple Substitute

Boston butt is your answer. Far better than temple.

Pork belly imo

Thanks everyone!

Not at all. Too little fat in temple meat. Boston butt has more intramuscular fat and thus, more flavor. Boston butt gets more tender than temple as well.

I’ve said it on here before and I’ll say it again… temple meat is popular in the Gonzales area and with the plant baws because:

(1) It is cheap (or was) which made it feasible for large jambalaya pots

(2) It is sold in 15 or 30 pound cases which makes it really easy for large jambalaya pots

(3) it comes in pieces which really only need to be sliced once or twice vs a roast like Boston butt which you have to cut

For these reasons, it was an easy option for jambalaya. Grocery stores in Gonzales normally have them in stock (cases are frozen and can easily be stored).


Does temple meat work? Of course.

Is temple meat better than butt? No.


People come on here and read about temple meat and talk to the Gonzales jambalaya cooks and they think it’s the secret ingredient because it’s different. But the fact is, it is used because it’s easier to prep. Temple meat will never have as much flavor as Boston butt nor will it get as tender.

If temple meat is so fantastic, why don’t you hear about it in other dishes besides jambalaya in the Ascension/BR area? Why aren’t chefs using it in restaurants? Why do only a select few grocery stores stock it?

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Not at all. Too little fat in temple meat. Boston butt has more intramuscular fat and thus, more flavor. Boston butt gets more tender than temple as well.

I’ve said it on here before and I’ll say it again… temple meat is popular in the Gonzales area and with the plant baws because:

(1) It is cheap (or was) which made it feasible for large jambalaya pots

(2) It is sold in 15 or 30 pound cases which makes it really easy for large jambalaya pots

(3) it comes in pieces which really only need to be sliced once or twice vs a roast like Boston butt which you have to cut

For these reasons, it was an easy option for jambalaya. Grocery stores in Gonzales normally have them in stock (cases are frozen and can easily be stored).


Does temple meat work? Of course.

Is temple meat better than butt? No.


People come on here and read about temple meat and talk to the Gonzales jambalaya cooks and they think it’s the secret ingredient because it’s different. But the fact is, it is used because it’s easier to prep. Temple meat will never have as much flavor as Boston butt not will it get as tender.

If temple meat is so fantastic, why don’t you hear about it in other dishes besides jambalaya in the Ascension/BR area? Why aren’t chefs using it in restaurants? Why do only a select few grocery stores stock it?

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Agree completely.

I'm going to be updating the Jambalaya Calculator to version 8.0 and I was already going to tone down the enthusiasm for temple meat.

If anybody has any suggestions for this last version of the JC, let me know.

Rat, I think that would be great.

Rouge, I’m all for cooking the way you like. Nothing wrong with using temple especially if you think you need to cut back on the fat. But that reinforces my point that temple meat doesn’t have enough fat. Fat is flavor.

How does everyone cook the butt pieces? Mine always come out over cooked and chewy.

I've tried cooking to slightly browned to crispy outsides, both ways chewy.

Cook your sausage, then remove. Remove most of the oil in the pot if needed. A little is fine. Add your pork, season, and cook. Keep cooking until it looks like stewed meat. Cook it like this and it’s tender already.

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People come on here and read about temple meat and talk to the Gonzales jambalaya cooks and they think it’s the secret ingredient because it’s different. But the fact is, it is used because it’s easier to prep. Temple meat will never have as much flavor as Boston butt nor will it get as tender.

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100% complete bullshite.

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100% complete bullshite.

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Is it? Make your case.