Karen Anand's Honey Smoked Ham
I used to do a ham cooked in beer but then stumbled upon a Nigella (and BBC) recipe, where they cook gammon or smoked ham in cola. It was amazing and irresistible and I have been cooking it that way ever since.
Recipe: Honey Smoked Ham
Ingredients
2 kg smoked boneless gammon joint
2 litres cola (not diet)
1 carrot, chopped
1 onion, peeled and quartered
1 stick celery, chopped
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tbsp peppercorns
1 bay leaf
For the glaze
150 ml honey
2 tbsp wholegrain mustard
10-12 cloves
Method
Put the smoked boneless gammon/ham joint in a large pan and cover with the cola (Pepsi or Coke).
Add the chopped carrot, onion, celery stick, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns and bay leaf.
Bring to the boil, then turn down to simmer for around 2 ½ hrs, topping up with boiling water if necessary to keep the gammon fully covered.
Test that it is done with a skewer.
Carefully pour the liquid away, then let the ham cool a little while you heat the oven to 190C.
Lift the ham into a roasting tin, then cut away the skin leaving behind an even layer of fat. Score the fat all over in a criss-cross pattern.
At this point, I stud the fat with cloves at the intersections.
Mix the honey and wholegrain mustard.
Pour over the ham and roast for 20 mins till the glaze starts to caramelise.
Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 mins.
Image credit: American Barbeque Systems
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