Apple and Maple Christmas Ham

Impress your guests this Christmas with this simple and delicious ham!

Ingredients

• 6kg leg of nitrate-free ham
• 5 red apples, thinly sliced using a mandolin
• 40g cloves
• 800ml Apple Juice
• 200g Brown Sugar
• 200ml Maple Syrup
• 200ml Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 tbsp Wholegrain Mustard
• Pinch of sea salt

Method

Step 1

Preheat a fan-forced oven to 160°C and line a large roasting pan with baking paper.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine apple juice, sugar, maple syrup, vinegar, mustard, and salt. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20-25 minutes until the mixture reduces and thickens.

Step 3

Using a sharp knife, make a cut around the ham hock about 10cm from the end. Carefully separate the rind from the fat by running your fingers between them, then score the fat diagonally to create a diamond pattern. Wrap the hock (the bony part of the leg) in aluminum foil. Delicately arrange the apple slices, slightly overlapping, onto the top side of the ham, securing them with cloves (or tooth-picks, if needed).

Step 4

Place the ham in the lined roasting pan and pour 1/4 of the glaze over the top. Roast for 40 minutes.

Step 5

Remove the ham from the oven and brush with more glaze. Return to the oven to roast for another 40 minutes, glazing again halfway through. Once cooked, allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes, then brush with additional glaze before carving and serving.

Looking for Nitrate Free Ham? We recommend searching online for suppliers in your area. Other options we have found online include:

• Australian Organic Meat Co
• Rosalie Gourmet Market
• Door Step Organics
• Uncle's Smallgoods
• Woolworths D'Orsogna Natural Leg Ham Portion 700g