Get ready to transform your holiday feast with a show-stopping Ham Christmas Jerk Ham that will have your guests begging for seconds! This Caribbean-inspired masterpiece combines the rich, succulent tradition of holiday ham with a bold, spicy jerk twist that promises to elevate your Christmas dinner from ordinary to extraordinary. Imagine a perfectly glazed ham with a caramelized exterior that's bursting with sweet, tangy, and fiery flavors – this recipe is about to become the star of your festive table.
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 2 hrs
Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
Cuisine: Caribbean
Serves: 10 servings
Ingredients
- 1 fully cooked ham
- 1/4 cup jerk seasoning
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon mustard
Instructions
- Remove the ham from refrigerator 1 hour before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature, which ensures more even heating.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C), preparing a large roasting pan with a rack to elevate the ham and allow proper heat circulation.
- In a mixing bowl, combine jerk seasoning, brown sugar, pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, and mustard to create a vibrant glaze. Whisk thoroughly until ingredients are fully integrated.
- Place the fully cooked ham fat-side up on the roasting rack, scoring the surface in a diamond pattern to help the glaze penetrate and caramelize.
- Brush approximately half of the prepared jerk glaze over the entire surface of the ham, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning and place in the preheated oven.
- Roast the ham for approximately
- 5 to 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C), basting with remaining glaze every 30 minutes.
- During the last 30 minutes of cooking, remove the foil to allow the glaze to caramelize and create a beautiful, sticky exterior.
- Remove ham from oven and let rest for 15-20 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute.
- Slice and serve warm, garnishing with fresh herbs or additional jerk seasoning if desired.
Tips
- Room Temperature Magic: Always let your ham sit out for an hour before cooking to ensure even heating and maximum juiciness.
- Glaze Like a Pro: Don't be shy with the glaze! Basting frequently creates layers of flavor and a gorgeous caramelized finish.
- Scoring Technique: When scoring the ham's surface, make gentle diamond-shaped cuts that are about 1/4 inch deep. This helps the glaze penetrate and creates beautiful presentation.
- Foil is Your Friend: Use aluminum foil to prevent over-browning, but remove it in the final cooking stage to achieve that irresistible sticky exterior.
- Rest is Best: Letting the ham rest after cooking allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring each slice is moist and flavorful.
- Garnish Wisdom: Fresh herbs like cilantro or green onions can add a fresh pop of color and complementary flavor to your jerk ham.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 250kcal
Carbohydrates: 15g
Protein: 20g
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 70mg
