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Christmas ham and gammon recipes

Looking for a stunning centrepiece for your Boxing Day buffet? From a sticky cranberry-glazed joint to punchy mustard gammon and a few leftover ideas, our collection of stunning Christmas ham and gammon recipes will definitely inspire your festive menu this year.

Baked ham with cranberry glaze, roasted pears and bacon greens
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Baked ham with cranberry glaze, roasted pears and bacon greens

It’s hard to beat a baked ham at Christmas, whether for a Boxing day buffet or as an alternative to the traditional roast turkey. This one has a sweet and sticky cranberry and mustard glaze, a port sauce and soft roasted pears. Serve with these honey and mustard bacon greens for a showstopper main.

  1. Put the gammon in a large, deep saucepan, cover with water and simmer for 2-2½ hrs or until very tender. Alternatively, roast the gammon in a roasting tin in the oven at gas 3, 170°C, fan 150°C, covered in foil, for the same amount of time.
  2. To make the sauce, heat 1 tsp oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the shallot, cook for 3 mins to soften, then season and stir in the vinegar and port. Simmer for 10 mins until reduced by a third, then add half the cranberry sauce. Simmer for 5 mins, then remove from the heat. Set aside.
  3. Preheat the oven to gas 5, 190°C, fan 170°C. Drain the gammon and leave to cool for 10 mins, then slice off the rind and most of the fat, leaving behind a 1cm layer. Score a cross-hatch diamond pattern into the fat and put in a roasting tin with the pears.
  4. To make the glaze, blitz the remaining cranberry sauce and brown sugar in a food processor to a smooth purée. Mix with the mustard, then brush all over the gammon and the pears. Press the cloves into the scores on the fat. Cover with foil and roast for 45 mins, or until the glaze has caramelised.
  5. Towards the end of the gammon’s cooking time, bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add the greens and cook for 1 min to wilt, then drain, rinse in cold water and drain again. Set aside. In a nonstick frying pan, fry the bacon over a medium heat for 3-4 mins until very crisp. Transfer to a plate and discard the fat from the pan. Add the olive oil and garlic and cook for 1 min or until pale golden. Add the vinegar, honey, mustard seeds and bacon. Simmer for 1 min until syrupy, then remove from heat. Toss with the greens and put in a bowl.
  6. Gently reheat the sauce, then serve alongside the ham with the pears and bacon greens.

See more Christmas Ham & Gammon recipes

For top tips on protecting you and your family when preparing raw meat and poultry, visit Food Safety in the Home.

View full recipe details
  • Ingredients
  • 2.6kg gammon joint
  • 3 small pears, halved
  • For the sauce and glaze
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 200ml port
  • 200g jar cranberry sauce
  • 3 tbsp soft brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
  • 2 tbsp whole cloves
  • For the bacon greens
  • 300g pack sliced greens
  • 5 rashers streaky bacon, chopped
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 2 tbsp cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tsp mustard seeds