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Orange and Honey Glazed Irish Ham
Christmas in Ireland wouldn’t feel complete without the comforting aroma of a traditional ham gently simmering away in the kitchen. In this festive recipe, Irish chef Neven Maguire shares a simple, reliable method for preparing a beautifully glazed ham using classic ingredients and a touch of sweetness.
Start With a Flavourful Simmer
Neven begins by placing the ham into a pot with a handful of aromatic ingredients designed to infuse the meat as it cooks. He adds:
- Celery
- Onion
- Thyme
- Peppercorns
The ham is gently simmered, with the cooking time based on its weight — a straightforward approach that makes planning the rest of Christmas dinner much easier.
Prepare the Ham for Glazing
Once cooked, the ham is removed from the pot and allowed to cool slightly. Neven then trims away any excess fat and scores the remaining fat in neat lines. This step helps the glaze cling to the surface and caramelise evenly in the oven.
A classic festive touch follows: studding the ham with cloves to add warmth, fragrance, and that unmistakable Christmas character.
The Orange and Honey Glaze
The glaze is made by gently warming orange and honey together until smooth. This mixture is brushed generously over the scored ham, coating it thoroughly before it goes into the oven.
Caramelise to Finish
The ham is roasted briefly, allowing the glaze to bubble and caramelise. Neven brushes it again during cooking to build up colour and shine, creating that iconic golden finish that makes an Irish Christmas ham so special.
A Simple, Festive Centrepiece
With its citrus brightness and sweet honeyed glaze, Neven Maguire’s method results in a tender, beautifully finished ham — perfect for Christmas Day or for enjoying cold in sandwiches over the holidays, and it pairs perfectly with a roast turkey on a Christmas table.
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