Glazed Ham in Ginger Beer

This glazed ham in ginger beer recipe is a favourite in our family. It was inspired by Nigella Lawson’s Ham in Coca Cola years ago. We were cooking a roast dinner at Easter maybe 10/15 years ago and we cooked the first ham in the coca cola. It was a revelation. The coke helps to tenderise the ham and enhances the sweetness. It was delicious.

What is ham in ginger beer?

Taking inspiration from that recipe we tried out a similar concept of cooking ham in ginger beer. Ginger tastes great with ham and we think that using ginger beer to boil and cook the gammon first helps again with the tenderisation and sweetness. Plus it imparts that delicious warmth of the ginger spice.

What is in the gammon glaze?

For the glaze we use golden syrup which is a favourite British syrup, although you could use any sugar syrup you like such as maple syrup, honey, treacle, or agave.

To add tang and further enhance the heat element we use dijon mustard and a touch of ground ginger. You can use any mustard you like really, English mustard is also nice and strong like its French counterpart. If you are less of a fan of mustard you can use the milder American mustard. Or skip it altogether if you wish.

Which spices do you use for the ham in ginger beer?

Along with the ground ginger as mentioned above. We also use whole cloves to add further warmth to the meat. The cloves are added at the roasting stage and poked into the scored fat. Be sure to pick out the cloves when you serve!

Can you use ginger ale instead of ginger beer?

Yes, you can. Ginger beer tends to have a stronger ginger taste as it’s fermented. Whereas ginger ale is lighter in flavour. Ginger ale ham is also great.

Can I cooked ginger beer ham in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can cook this ham in ginger beer recipe using a slow cooker.

How to serve ham in ginger beer

Ham, or gammon, in ginger beer feels like one of those special occasion types of roast dinners. We have served a large gammon joint using this recipe at Easter for a big family get together. It’s also great for one of those Christmas family meals when you want something other than turkey.

We serve it with all our favourite roast dinner trimmings. The traditional accompaniment to gammon or ham is apple sauce. Red cabbage is great with roast gammon. Other favourites include creamy mashed potato, glazed carrots, and cauliflower.

If you want an alternative to a traditional roast dinner you could serve this with a potato salad, green beans, fresh crusty bread, or macaroni cheese.

Or, this ham in ginger beer would make a great addition to a buffet.

HAM IN GINGER BEER (SERVES 8)

INGREDIENTS

• 2KG Gammon
• 1.5L Ginger Beer
• 1 Large Onion, peeled and halved

For the glaze

• 20 Whole Cloves
• 1 Tbsp Golden Syrup
• 2 Tsp Dijon Mustard
• 2 Tbsp Demerara Sugar
• 1 Tsp Ground Ginger

METHOD

1. In a deep saucepan place the gammon with the onion and cover with ginger beer, top up with water to cover the meat. Bring to boil and reduce to a low simmer with the lid on for about 2 hours (an hour per kilo). Remove the gammon carefully from the pan and allow to cool slightly.
2. Preheat the oven to 220C.
3. Remove the skin with a sharp knife leaving a thin layer of fat. Score the fat diagonally both ways to create diamonds. Poke a clove into each corner of the diamonds. Smooth the golden syrup over the fat without dislodging the cloves. Follow with a smearing of the mustard over the top. Sprinkle the sugar and ginger over the top.
4. Roast the gammon in the oven for 10 minutes or until the coating looks sticky and caramelised.
5. Carve and serve immediately.

 

You might also like:

• Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder
• Roast Leg of Lamb
• Classic Roast Turkey
• Roast Lemon and Thyme Chicken