Honey-Glazed Roasted Christmas Ham is more than just a dish: it’s a heartwarming tradition that brings family and friends together around a festive table. With its golden glaze and fragrant spices, this ham brings an irresistible sweet and salty note, perfect for celebrating the holiday season. Each bite of this melt-in-your-mouth ham is an explosion of flavors that perfectly combines the sweetness of honey with the subtle spiciness of spices.
When preparing for Christmas dinners, roast ham is a simple yet impressive option, perfect for feeding a large crowd without being too complicated to make. Slow-roasting in the oven produces juicy meat, while the honey and brown sugar glaze creates a caramelized crust that is both crunchy and melt-in-the-mouth. The aromas of cloves, cinnamon and ginger add a touch of comforting spice, typical of Christmas celebrations.
The choice of spices is crucial to creating a perfectly balanced ham. Clove, traditionally used in this type of preparation, infuses the meat with a unique aromatic warmth. Cinnamon and ginger add warm, slightly spicy notes, while complementing the sweetness of the honey. Orange juice, meanwhile, brings a slight acidity, which contrasts pleasantly with the sweet and fatty side of the meat.
This recipe is also incredibly versatile. You can adjust the ingredients to suit your tastes: swap out the honey for maple syrup for a woodier flavor, or add a touch of chili for a slight kick. Whether you choose to follow the recipe exactly or adapt it to your taste, Christmas ham is a must-have for a hearty, festive meal.
Ultimately, preparing a roast ham for Christmas is about offering your guests a memorable and tradition-rich taste experience. With its warming flavours and majestic appearance on the table, it is the perfect dish to mark this special time of year.
Introduction
Roasted Christmas ham, glazed with honey and flavored with spices is a must-have dish for holiday meals. With its golden, caramelized skin, it brings warmth and conviviality to the table. Flavored with cloves, ginger and cinnamon, this ham seduces with its sweet and spicy flavors, perfect for wowing your guests.
Ingredients (for 12 people)
- 1 ham of 4 to 5 kg (not boneless)
- 150 g of honey
- 100 g brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons old-fashioned mustard
- 1 teaspoon of cloves
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1 bouquet garni (thyme, bay leaf)
Substitutions and Variations
- Honey : Substitute maple syrup or molasses for a more intense flavor.
- Cloves : Use powder for a more even diffusion of aroma.
Necessary equipment
- Oven for slow and even cooking.
- Roasting dish to collect cooking juices.
Preparation steps
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