Infused with fresh ginger, star anise, and cloves, this Asian-inspired ham is packed with amazing flavor, and lacquered in a sweet, sticky honey, orange, and Chinese five spice glaze. It's a stellar showstopper for any holiday meal!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian
Keyword sticky glazed Asian ham
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 2 hourshours10 minutesminutes
Total Time 2 hourshours30 minutesminutes
Servings 10
Calories 774kcal
Ingredients
For ham
5 lbfresh ham, smoked if you like
¼cupblack peppercorns
2bay leaves
1knob of fresh ginger, (about 2 tablespoons), finely grated
2star anise
1large handful of cloves
For sticky glaze
2clovesgarlic thinly sliced
½orange, zested and juice reserved
⅔cuphoney
1 ½cupsbrown sugar
1red jalapeño pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1teaspoonfive-spice powder
½cupsoy sauce
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
If using a fresh ham, soak it in cold water overnight to remove the excess salt from brining and smoking, or cook the ham in a large stockpot of water for 30 minutes over medium heat. Remove from the pot and discard the salted liquid.
Place the ham in a large, clean stockpot and cover completely with water. Add the peppercorns, bay leaves, ginger, star anise, and half the cloves and bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. Cook for 25 minutes per 1 pound of ham.
About a half hour before ham is done cooking, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Mix the ingredients for the glaze in a small pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat until sugar has dissolved then reduce to simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes until reduced and thickened.
Remove the ham from the water and pat dry with paper towels and remove net if it has one. Use a sharp small knife to score the meat diagonally, then change direction and score the other way to form diamonds. Stick the remaining cloves into the holes where the lines cross. Pour the glaze evenly over the meat reserving what you don't use for dipping sauce. Place the ham in the oven and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top begins to caramelize.
Remove from the oven, tent for 10 minutes and then slice and serve.