Cherry Glazed Ham
An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 60 minutes
Serves: 12 people
- 200g/7ozs cherry jam
- 1/2 cup/125ml/4flozs brandy (rum or whisky)
- 1 cup/220g/7.7ozs light or dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons mixed spice
- 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
- 100g/3.5ozs cherries, pitted
- 1 half or full leg of ham
Step 1 - First make the glaze (you can make this up to a week beforehand). Heat the cherry jam, brandy, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, mixed spice fennel seeds in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes until starting to thicken. Add cherries and simmer for another 5 minutes. It should be a syrupy consistency. Blend up into a puree.
Step 2 - Fit your oven racks so that they can fit your ham. Preheat oven to 180C/350F and line a baking dish with parchment. Carefully remove the rind from the ham. I find it easiest to cut it at an inconspicuous point and then slide my fingers under the rind. Score the fat with a sharp knife but don't cut deep enough to reach the meat. Brush with the glaze and bake for 15 minutes. Repeat with more glaze and repeat twice for a total of 45 minutes for a half leg of ham or 1 hour 15 minutes for a full leg of ham. Serve with extra cherries on top.