Ever wondered why ham is traditional Christmas fare? Word has it we have European pagan legend to thank. In efforts to appease Freyr, the Norse God of fertility, harvest and boars, the pagan folk would cook up a hammy feast, and the ritual has stuck.
These days, presenting a gorgeous glazed ham at Christmas time is more about wowing your lunch guests! Whichever tradition you follow, this simple recipe is a great way to celebrate the season with family and friends.
Honey Mustard Glazed Ham
Ingredients
Whole cloves
150g brown sugar
2 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp hot English mustard
Method
- Preheat the oven to 170c, remove all shelves apart from bottom shelf
- Remove the skin from the ham, run a small, sharp knife under the rind around the edge to gently separate the rind away from the fat
- Score the fat into a diamond pattern about 5mm deep
- Stud each diamond with cloves and transfer to a large baking dish
- Stir the brown sugar, honey and mustards together in a small bowl
- Pour the glaze over the ham and place the baking tray on the bottom shelf in the preheated oven
- Baste the ham with the glaze every 20 minutes (use a spoon to ladle over) for 1.5hrs or until desired depth of golden color is achieved
