Glazed Picnic Ham Recipe - Perfect for the holidays

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With the holiday season approaching, you should have a delicious ham recipe to share with your loved ones.

What I like about this combination of flavors is that it is not traditional. It has the right sweetness and enhances the salty and smoky flavor of the ham.

It came up one day when we didn't have pineapple juice or cut pineapples at home. In the end, there was apple juice. So we tried, and the combination was perfect. Since then, we have not done it differently.

Today I'm sharing the recipe that my family makes at home for Christmas ham, different from the traditional one that is always made with pineapple.

📋 Ingredients for the recipe

To prepare this recipe, you will need a picnic ham (pork shoulder), brown sugar, apple juice, cloves, dijon mustard, and applesauce.

On the recipe card below, you will have the complete measurements for each of these ingredients.

As for utensils, you'll use a small knife, a medium bowl, a roasting tray, a brush to put the glaze on the ham, and a small saucepan to reduce the glaze.

Now that you have all the ingredients and utensils, then let's get started.

💡 Tip: Remember to defrost your ham in advance of the dates to avoid being in a slide.

📝 How to make the recipe? - Step by Step

Preparation

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350ºF / 176º C. So when you finish preparing the ham, the oven will be at the correct temperature.

💡 Tip: I use an oven thermometer to be sure what the temperature is.

Step 2: Remove the rind or hard skin that is on top.

For this, you will need a small knife and run the knife along with the rind so that you do not cut the ham. At the same time, pull the part of the rind that is free.

If it is challenging, you can parboil the ham for 30 minutes on the rind side, and it will come out quickly. After removing the skin, place it on the roasting tray you will use for baking.

Step 3: Now make the diagonal cuts (diamond shape) on the fat of approximately 1 ”. In the joints or crosses, place the cloves.

Step 4: Prepare the glaze by making a paste with brown sugar, dijon mustard, and applesauce.

Step 5: Take a little of the mixture, brush it all over the ham, and be careful not to remove the cloves. You can also place them after adding the glaze.

Reserve the rest that you'll use it later.

Step 6: Add half of the apple juice on top and the rest to the baking tray. The juice will help you have liquid to cook the ham. It will also serve as the base for the sauce.

Cooking

Step 7: Now, let's get cooking. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes to start cooking.

Once time has passed with a brush, add more glaze. Cover it again and bake for 30 more minutes. You'll repeat the previous steps three (3) more times.

On the last pass, remove the aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes to caramelize the glaze. It'll take a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes approximately to be ready.

💡 Tip: Bake the ham for about 30 minutes/pound. It must have a temperature of 165º F to be cooked properly.

Step 8: Once the time has ended, remove it from the oven and let it rest covered with the aluminum foil for about 15-20 minutes, and then proceed to cut it.

Remove the cloves to prevent someone from biting them by accident and slice it. This way, it’s easier to serve.

Step 9: The cooking liquid will remain in the tray, and you can reduce it. Place it in a small saucepan and let it reduce slightly over low heat until it thickens.

You'll use this same reduction when you reheat the ham. This helps it not dry out.

I like that this glaze is not super sweet. It has a perfect point and gives a delicious flavor to your ham.

Serving Suggestions:

To accompany this delicious ham, you can serve it with any of the following options:

• Mashed potatoes
• Rice with pigeon peas
• White rice or cauliflower rice if you prefer a low-carb option
• Caramelized Plantains (Plátanos en tentación)
• A green salad

Storage

Once cool, you can store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

Reheat

You can reheat them in a pan, in the oven, or use the microwave. For any of the three options, add a little of the glaze so it does not dry out. If you are using the oven, bake for 10-15 minutes per pound; no more than that.

FAQs

What to do with leftover ham?

You can make a variety of recipes with leftover ham. I leave you some recipes for which you do not need measurements:

• Omelette, or a Quiche
• Fried rice
• Soup with the ham bone
• Beans with ham or ham bone
• Christmas Sandwich (with lettuce and tomato thread and some cheese)

Can I freeze the leftovers?

You can freeze them, preferably do it in portions like a cup if they are already chopped. So you can defrost small amounts and use them when you need them. It lasts about 3 months in the freezer.

What is Picnic ham?

Picnic ham is the pork shoulder cut. It comes with the bone and is smoked.

How much ham should I buy per person?

Typically I have seen that it is estimated between 1 kg for 5 people. A 4.5 kg ham can serve about 20-25 people. This is considering that the ham is the only main dish to be served.

If you have a small family, this amount of ham will give you several leftovers you can freeze and save for later.

How do I prevent the ham from drying out when it is baking?

I recommend covering it during cooking; this helps it not dry out. In addition to this, if you are going to reheat it in the oven, it would be to add some of the cooking liquid and cover it so that it is juicy. Bake for 10-15 minutes per pound; no more than that.

If you tried the Christmas Glazed Picnic Ham recipe or any other recipe on Nashi Food, don't forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! We love knowing about your cooking experience.