Stem ginger & mustard glazed ham

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only

Wow guests this Christmas with our showstopping glazed ham. The ginger is almost toffee-like, the meat stays juicy and the clementines add a pop of colour

  • Prep:20 mins
    Cook:4 hrs
    plus 10 mins cooling
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 398
  • fat 22g
  • saturates 7g
  • carbs 8g
  • sugars 7g
  • fibre 0g
  • protein 42g
  • salt 5.5g

Ingredients

  • 5kg boneless gammon joint(smoked or unsmoked depending on your preference)
  • 2l ginger beer
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 2 clementinesor satsumas, halved horizontally, plus a few to decorate the plate, if you like
  • 20 cloves
  • 3 bay leaves, plus a few to decorate the plate, if you like
  • 2 tbsp English mustard
  • 4 tbsp ginger syrup, plus 3-4 balls stem ginger from the same jar, thinly sliced

Tip

Buying your ham

You should be able to buy a ham of this size in the supermarket, but if you order one from the butcher, you can be more specific with what you want. If you like a deep smoky flavour, go for smoked; ask the butcher how smoky their hams are as they vary hugely. If you want something more neutral, unsmoked is best. Ask your butcher if the ham needs soaking; some hams are pre-soaked to remove some of the salt. If they recommend soaking the ham before cooking, place it in a bucket or pan and cover in cold water, changing the water 2-3 times over 24 hrs before cooking. Remember, boneless hams are much easier to carve.

Method

  1. Put the gammon in a deep saucepan (if tied, leave it as is). Pour over the ginger beer and add the onion, clementine halves, 5 cloves and 3 bay leaves. Top up the saucepan with enough water to just cover the gammon. Bring to a gentle bubble, cover with foil and cook for 2 hrs, topping up with more water while cooking if you need to.

  2. Remove the ham from its cooking liquid using large tongs and leave to cool for 10 mins until cool enough to handle.

  3. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Carefully cut off the rind, leaving a thin layer of fat on the ham. Score a diamond pattern all over the fat. Put the gammon in a roasting tin. Mix the mustard and ginger syrup, then paint about half of the mixture over the ham. Stuff the stem ginger slices into the crevices of the scored fat and stud with the remaining cloves.

  4. Bake for 20 mins, then paint with the remaining glaze. Bake for 1 hr more until burnished and bronzed. Cover with foil during cooking if the glaze starts to catch. Cut some clementines into thick slices and roast them while you glaze the ham, then use to decorate the plate, if you like. Serve the ham warm or cold. Will keep in the fridge for five days.

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