The addition of figs lends a wonderful, fruity flavour to this Christmas recipe. The Fig-Glazed Ham is surprisingly simple to make and will quickly become a yuletide family favourite!
Ingredients
- 7 kg whole leg of ham on bone (from leading supermarkets)
- Whole cloves
- 1 cup water
- 8 fresh figs, halved
GLAZE
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup fig jam
- ½ cup apple juice
- 2 tbsps balsamic vinegar
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
Steps
Preheat oven to moderately hot, 190 C. Place one oven shelf on lowest position and remove other shelves.
With a small sharp knife, cut through ham rind 10 cm from top of shank. Then rub your thumb underneath skin and above fat layer to separate edges all the way round. Starting from widest edge, gently pull back rind to remove.
Using a sharp knife, score a diamond pattern at 2-cm intervals, about 0.5 cm deep, all over ham fat. (Do not cut too deeply or the fat will spread apart during cooking.)
Press a clove into centre of each diamond. Pour 1 cup of water into a baking pan large enough to hold the ham. Place ham on a wire rack in pan.
Prepare glaze by combining all ingredients in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until smooth. Strain into a bowl, reserving 2 tbsps for figs.
Brush quarter of remaining glaze over ham. Bake 30 mins, basting every 15 mins. Cook a further 15 mins, basting twice with remaining glaze and juices from pan until glaze caramelises. Remove from oven and rest 10 mins.
Meanwhile, brush figs with reserved glaze (optional) and arrange on an oven tray. Bake 8 to 10 mins, until they begin to caramelise.
Carve ham into slices. Serve warm at room temperature with figs.