Christmas Gammon Glazed with Brandy and Coke

Hey there! Can you believe how cheap the hams and gammons are in the shops right now? It’s like there’s a pork surplus in South Africa. Last week, I snagged a 2.6kg gammon for just over a hundred rands, and boy, was it good! Stick around till the end of this post, and I’ll give you some awesome tips on how to make that gammon last for two, or even three, meals.

Now, here’s a winning combo for you: brandy and Coke. We South Africans love sipping on this concoction, especially during the holidays. So, why not use it to glaze our Christmas gammon, right? Coca-Cola is the perfect glazing liquid because it turns into a delicious, sticky darkness when cooked. And have you heard? The secret recipe is said to have vanilla, cinnamon, coriander, and citrus fruit in it!

In this recipe, I’ll show you how to make a delicious Christmas gammon. We start by simmering a whole gammon in a flavorful liquid that includes festive spices like star anise. The star anise gives the meat a subtle aniseed flavor, but if you’re not a fan, you can leave it out.

You can choose whether to use a gammon with a bone or without, but keep in mind that the cooking times will vary. Make sure to check the recipe for the specific cooking times.

Once the gammon is cooked, don’t throw away the cooking liquid! It’s packed with wonderful flavors and aromas. You can use it to make a delicious stock for soups and stews.

When serving the Christmas gammon, you have options. You can enjoy it warm with boiled new potatoes and a refreshing green salad. Or you can serve it cold with some mustard, pickles, homemade mayonnaise, and crusty bread. It’s a versatile dish that’s perfect for the holiday season.

So, let’s get started and make this mouthwatering Christmas gammon glazed with brandy and coke. It will be the star of your festive feast, serving 8-10 people.

I’m going to show you how to make a delicious and refreshing drink called “Coca-Cola Ham.” This recipe combines the unique flavors of Coca-Cola and ham to create a mouthwatering dish that will leave your taste buds wanting more. First, let me share with you the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:

For the ham, you will need:

– One can (330 ml) of ginger ale

– One bottle (330 ml) of your favorite beer

– 2 whole star anise

– 3 bay leaves

– 3 whole cloves

– 1 large onion, peeled and quartered

– 1 thumb-length quill of cinnamon

– A large blade of mace (or a quarter of a nutmeg, grated)

– 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of whole black peppercorns

– Water, to cover

– Whole cloves, to stud

For the Coca-Cola glaze, you will need:

– One can (330 ml) of Coca-Cola

– 4 teaspoons (20 ml) of Dijon mustard

– 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of hot English mustard powder

– 100 ml of brown sugar

– 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of good instant coffee

– 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of freshly squeezed lemon juice

– 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of brandy (Klipdrift, if you want to be authentic)

Now, let’s get started with the cooking process. First, we’ll prepare the ham. Take a large pot and add the ginger ale, beer, star anise, bay leaves, cloves, onion, cinnamon, mace, and black peppercorns. Cover the ingredients with water and place the pot over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the ham simmer for about 20 minutes per pound.

While the ham is simmering, let’s make the Coca-Cola glaze. In a separate saucepan, combine the Coca-Cola, Dijon mustard, hot English mustard powder, brown sugar, instant coffee, lemon juice, and brandy. Stir the mixture well and heat it over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and the glaze has thickened slightly. This will take about 15 minutes.

Once the ham is done simmering, remove it from the pot and place it on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to score the fat in a crisscross pattern. Stud the ham with whole cloves and brush the Coca-Cola glaze all over the surface of the ham.

Now it’s time to cook the glazed ham. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the ham in a roasting pan and bake it in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the glaze has caramelized and the ham is golden brown.

Once the ham is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for about 15 minutes before slicing and serving. The Coca-Cola glaze will have created a sticky, sweet, and savory coating on the ham that tastes absolutely delicious.

Coca-Cola ham is a unique and flavorful dish that will impress your family and friends. The combination of the ginger ale, beer, and Coca-Cola infuses the ham with a delightful blend of sweetness and tanginess. Give this recipe a try and enjoy the mouthwatering flavors of Coca-Cola ham!

First things first, let’s determine the weight of your gammon. You can either weigh it or check the weight mentioned on the label. Now, grab a large, deep pot and gather your gammon, ginger ale, beer, star anise, bay leaves, cloves, onion, cinnamon, mace, and peppercorns.

Put all these ingredients into the pot with the gammon, making sure the water level just covers the meat. Once that’s done, bring the pot to a boil. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat so that it simmers energetically. To cover the pot partially, use a lid that’s tilted.

When dealing with boneless gammon, cook it for about 30-40 minutes per kilogram. However, if you have a gammon with a substantial bone, it’ll need around 45-55 minutes per kilogram. You can also refer to the instructions on the packaging for specific cooking times. While your gammon cooks, keep an eye on the pot and add more water if required.

Once the cooking time is up, turn off the heat and allow the gammon to cool completely in the liquid. It’s a good idea to boil the gammon a day in advance and let it cool overnight. This way, the flavors will develop and the gammon will be even more delicious.

Hey there, let me give you a super simple recipe. First, preheat your oven to the hottest setting, somewhere between 220-240 degrees Celsius.

Now, grab a big pan, like a wok, and pour in some Coca-Cola. Let it bubble away on the heat until it reduces by half. Then, whisk in some Dijon mustard, mustard powder, sugar, and coffee powder. Keep stirring and boiling for about 5 to 7 minutes, until it becomes nice and syrupy. You should end up with around 200 ml of liquid.

Take the gammon out of the liquid and dry it off. Place it in a roasting pan, and peel off the rind. Grab a sharp knife and score the top of the gammon in a crisscross pattern. To add some extra flavor, stick cloves all over the gammon.

I’m pouring the glaze over the gammon and putting the roasting pan in a super hot oven. I need to cook it for about 20-30 minutes, but it could be longer or shorter depending on how hot my oven is. To make sure the meat is nice and juicy, I need to baste it every four to five minutes by scooping up the glaze from the bottom of the pan and pouring it over the top and sides. The glaze will get thicker and reduce as it cooks, so I need to keep a close eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn. When the gammon has a shiny, brown crust and there’s just a little glaze left in the pan, it’s time to take it out of the oven. I’ll use a pastry brush to paint any remaining glaze over the top and sides of the gammon. Then I’ll let it rest for ten minutes before serving it hot with boiled new potatoes and a green salad. If I want to serve it cold, I can store it in the fridge, uncovered, for up to four hours. And don’t forget, if you’re looking for more delicious Christmas recipes, you can find them here. Oh, and by the way, this blog post was originally published on Scrumptious South Africa.