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Donal Skehan
Cola Christmas Ham | DonalSkehan.com, The perfect sweet-savoury addition to your Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving celebrations.
  • christmas

Cola Christmas Ham

November 18

Cooked in cola, this Christmas ham is gently spiced with a hint of sweetness. Topped of with a sticky glaze and mustard bark, this will fast become a tradition in your house too!

  • serves Serves 8
  • time 160 mins

Method

  1. 1. Place the ham in a large pot and pour in the cola along with the onion, star anise, cloves and peppercorns. If the cola doesn’t cover the ham, add water.
  2. 2. Bring to the boil and them simmer steadily for 40 minutes per kg of ham. After the cooking time, turn off the heat and allow to cool in the liquid.
  3. 3. In a small saucepan, add the orange juice, honey and sugar and cook gently until the sugar has dissolved and you are left with a slightly thick glaze. Leave to cool slightly.
  4. 4. Preheat the oven to 220°C/450°F/Gas mark 8.
  5. 5. When the ham has cooled, remove from the liquid before removing the skin, exposing the fat and scoring diagonally with a small sharp knife. Stud each cross with the cloves. Place the ham in a roasting tray and brush the glaze over the top. Sprinkle with the mustard powder.
  6. 6. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden on top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before slicing thinly to serve.

Ingredients

For the ham:

6 lbs ham

8 1/2 cups cola

1 large onion

1 tbsp black peppercorns

8 whole cloves, plus extra for garnish

3 star anise

For the glaze:

4 tbsp honey

3 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp English mustard powder

Juice of 1 orange

Handful of cloves

For the ham:

2.5kg ham

2 litres cola

1 large onion

1 tbsp black peppercorns

8 whole cloves, plus extra for garnish

3 star anise

For the glaze:

4 tbsp honey

3 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp English mustard powder

Juice of 1 orange

Handful of cloves

 

You'll Need

Large pot

Small saucepan

Roasting tray

 

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