✯Christmas Ham ✯

This ham is basically Nigellas ham in cola recipe, but I have changed the glaze.

I make my ham this way every year now, I used to follow Leiths recipe where the ham is boiled in cider with various veg and spices, but I much prefer this way, its sweeter and dark, and  has a far superior flavour.

I used a 2.8 kg sweetcure gammon, and don't bother soaking overnight, my ham is never salty,but you can soak in cold water overnight if you prefer, or bring to boil, then drain off liquid .

Place your ham with the rind intact into a large deep pot, along with an onion chopped into 4  pieces, then pour over 2 litres of cola~ NOT diet, has to be full sugar, although I just buy the cheaper brand. you may not fit 2 litres in at first but as it reduces, keep topping it up so its covered.

Bring to boil, and cover with lid, not completely, and  then turn down to a rolling simmer for 2 1/2 -3 hours. Pre heat oven to gas 8/ 220 .

Drain, and place ham on a board, and leave to cool for 10 mins, remove the wrapper that held the rind intact, being careful not to pull off rind, the slice a layer of the rind away, leaving a a layer of fat about a cm or so thick, then score a diamond pattern into the fat.

Place the ham into a roasting tin with a layer of foil, stud with cloves, pat a layer of wholegrain mustard rubbing in so it soaks under the rind, then do the same with dark muscavodo sugar, then drizzle lots of honey over the top. Roast in the oven for 15 mins until burnished and bubbling.

Place on a board and use the glaze that has run into the pan, to baste a couple more times.

You can vary the glaze to your own taste, any good sticky jam , marmalde, or maple syrup will work just as well. Niglella uses treacle, but im not a fan, so use honey instead., you can use any mustard, Dijon, or English not too much english though, as  very hot!  A lot of folk breadcrumb it after a layer of mustard, whatever your preference!

Best ham in the world!

You will NOT be able to leave it alone, it is so delicious, hide from childen that sneakily pick!

Great to have with your turkey dinner, but sooo good cold with pickles and in sandwiches, it never lasts long enough. Enjoy! xx