The tradition of eating ham at Christmas is thought to have evolved from the Germanic pagan ritual of sacrificing a wild boar to the Norse God Freyr during harvest festivals.
These days, a beautifully glazed ham is the centrepiece of any festive lunch or dinner table and Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it! Don’t go boring this year, check out these five creative recipes for a showstopping dish that will be the envy of all who enjoy a slice.
Think glazes from maple and Guinness to Cajun spices and passionfruit!
This mouth-watering maple-glazed ham is a stunning centrepiece that can be enjoyed in many forms, from a wholesome roast to a scrumptious sandwich filler.
The key to this recipe is a simple trick that takes the flavour to the next level – while prepping the ham, make sure to score the fat in crosshatch patterns, this will allow the glaze to seep deep into the meat. While it might be tempting to dive right into the dish after it comes out of the oven, make sure to let the ham rest for at least 10 minutes before carving.
Chef’s tip: the ham can be roasted up to two days ahead and served cold.
Looking for a mouth-watering ham recipe? Give Luke Mangan's Guinness, mustard and maple glaze a go this year. It’s a delicious main that is sure to bring oohs and aahs when it arrives at the table.
This glazed Christmas ham makes the perfect main for any festive party. It's simple to prepare and bursting with sweet flavours of passionfruit, brown sugar, Dijon mustard and maple; dry the passionfruit seeds as per the recipe and use them to decorate the scored diamonds on the ham, instead of cloves.
Want a deliciously juicy festive ham? You can't go past a sticky and sweet rum, treacle and cola glaze. Paired with roast peaches, this recipe is perfect for Summer, paired with a leafy green salad, tomatoes and avocado.
Take your Christmas ham to the next level by slathering it with a sticky glaze comprising pineapple juice and aromatic Cajun seasoning. This ham can be cooked either on the barbeque or in the oven, depending on your Christmas lunch or dinner plans.
Tip: to cook ham in the oven, preheat oven to 180 C/160 C fan-forced and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, brushing with the honey mixture every 15 minutes, or until ham is golden. Store leftover ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use leftover ham in salads, toasties and pasta.
