Perfect Tangerine Glazed Ham: Your Ultimate Holiday Roasting Guide
Indulge in a truly spectacular oven-baked ham, generously coated with a sweet and tangy tangerine glaze. This impressive dish is a beloved centerpiece, perfect for any holiday table, from Easter brunch to a grand Christmas dinner.
For many families, holidays are synonymous with cherished traditions, and at our house, a beautifully baked ham has been a festive staple for as long as I can remember. Year after year, it takes pride of place on our dinner table, often accompanied by a comforting cheesy potato casserole. While some elements of our holiday spread have evolved over time, the ham remains a constant, a delicious anchor to our celebratory meals.
One tradition that has gracefully shifted over the years is dessert. Growing up, with an abundance of holiday candies and treats always within reach, a formal dessert wasn’t always a priority. However, as I’ve gotten older, my appreciation for a classic sweet ending has grown, and a rich, creamy French Silk Pie has become my personal, much-anticipated tradition. It’s the perfect blend of indulgence and nostalgia that perfectly complements any holiday feast.
Beyond the main course, holidays in our home always kick off with a special breakfast. Warm cinnamon rolls are an absolute must, no matter the occasion – Easter, Christmas, or any other festive morning. This delightful start sets the tone for a day of celebration, culminating in the show-stopping, yet surprisingly easy, baked ham with its exquisite tangerine glaze. This recipe transforms a simple ham into an unforgettable culinary experience, making it the perfect focal point for your holiday gathering.
Why a Tangerine Glaze for Your Holiday Ham?
While classic brown sugar and pineapple glazes are delicious, a tangerine glaze introduces a vibrant, sophisticated twist that truly elevates your holiday ham. Tangerines offer a unique balance of sweetness and a delicate tartness that is less acidic than oranges, creating a bright, aromatic counterpoint to the rich, savory flavors of the pork. The natural sugars in the fruit, combined with brown sugar and a hint of warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, caramelize beautifully in the oven, forming a glistening, irresistible crust that locks in moisture and infuses every slice with incredible flavor.
This citrus-infused glaze isn’t just about taste; it’s about presentation and aroma too. The bright citrus notes fill your kitchen with a festive fragrance, signaling that something special is being prepared. Moreover, the beautiful golden-orange hue of the caramelized glaze adds a stunning visual appeal to your holiday spread, making your ham a true showstopper. It’s a simple change that yields remarkably delicious results, proving that sometimes, the best recipes are those that combine familiar comfort with a fresh, exciting twist.
How to Bake a Ham Perfectly Every Time
Baking a ham for a holiday meal might seem daunting, but it’s actually quite straightforward, especially if you start with the right knowledge. Most hams available in grocery stores are **precooked**, meaning your primary goal is to warm the ham thoroughly and enhance its flavor with a delectable glaze. Here’s how to ensure your ham is perfectly cooked and ready to impress:
- **Preheat Your Oven:** Begin by preheating your oven to a moderate 350°F (175°C). This temperature allows the ham to heat through evenly without drying out.
- **Prepare Your Ham for Roasting:** Place your ham in a large roasting dish, ideally **cut side down**. This orientation helps to retain moisture during the baking process, ensuring a juicy ham. I personally favor using a spiral-cut ham; they cook much faster, are incredibly easy to serve thanks to the pre-cut slices, and consistently turn out delicious. The spiral cuts also allow the glaze to penetrate deep into the meat, maximizing flavor.
- **Calculate Cooking Time:** For a precooked ham, plan for approximately **10-12 minutes per pound**. This ensures the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C), which is the recommended safe temperature for reheating precooked ham.
- **Glaze and Baste for Flavor:** Once the ham is in the oven, you’ll want to pour your prepared glaze over it. **Baste the ham every 30 minutes** throughout the cooking process. Basting simply means spooning the accumulating liquid and glaze from the bottom of your baking pan over the ham. This continuous reapplication helps to build up that beautiful, flavorful crust and keeps the ham moist.
- **Achieve Optimal Temperature:** I prefer my ham to be wonderfully hot throughout, so I generally aim for the higher end of the cooking time, closer to 12 minutes per pound. This prevents the center from remaining slightly cool, which can sometimes happen with thicker hams. For best results, use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature.
Remember, the goal is to warm the ham thoroughly while infusing it with the delicious flavors of your glaze, not to cook it from raw. This method ensures a succulent, flavorful ham that’s tender and juicy from edge to center.
For many years, when I prepared a ham, I never bothered with a glaze. I’d typically discard the small packet that came with the ham and never ventured to create my own. This all changed dramatically when a dear friend shared this incredible tangerine glaze recipe with me! It’s an unexpectedly easy ham glaze that magically transforms your ham from merely delicious to truly spectacular and over-the-top amazing!
How to Glaze a Ham for Maximum Flavor
The secret to an extraordinary holiday ham often lies in its glaze. This tangerine glaze is a game-changer, simple to prepare yet incredibly impactful. It blends classic sweet and savory elements with a bright, citrusy punch. Here’s how to master the glazing process:
- **Crafting the Glaze:** The base of this incredible glaze is a harmonious mix of rich brown sugar, the bright zest and juice from fresh tangerines (or oranges), and a selection of warm, aromatic spices. To create it, you simply **simmer all the ingredients together** in a saucepan over medium heat on the stove. Stir occasionally, allowing the mixture to gently reduce and thicken into a beautiful, syrupy consistency. This simmering process usually takes about 30-40 minutes, concentrating the flavors and ensuring it will adhere perfectly to the ham.
- **Glazing a Spiral-Cut Ham:** If you are using a **spiral-cut ham**, which is already precooked and pre-sliced, you can apply the glaze right from the start of the baking process. Pour the warm glaze generously over the ham as soon as it goes into the oven. Then, continue to **baste the ham every 30 minutes** as it bakes. The spiral cuts are fantastic for allowing the glaze to seep into every layer, infusing the meat with flavor.
- **Understanding Basting:** Basting is a crucial step that ensures a moist and flavorful ham with a perfectly caramelized crust. It simply involves spooning the delicious liquid (the glaze mixed with natural ham juices) that collects at the bottom of your roasting pan back over the ham. This rehydrates the surface, adds layers of flavor, and helps to build that desirable sticky, glossy finish.
- **Glazing a Whole, Uncooked Ham:** If you are preparing a **whole, uncooked ham**, the glazing timing differs. In this case, you should wait to pour the glaze over the ham until you have approximately **2 hours left in its total cooking process**. Applying the glaze too early to an uncooked ham can cause the sugars to burn before the ham is fully cooked. Always refer to your ham’s packaging for specific cooking instructions and internal temperature recommendations for uncooked ham.
By following these simple steps, you’ll achieve a ham that boasts a glistening, deeply flavorful crust and tender, juicy meat within, making it the highlight of any festive meal.
Oven Baked Ham is undeniably a classic, gracing countless holiday tables with its presence. This particular tangerine glaze, however, takes it to an entirely new level, making it wonderfully sweet, tangy, and utterly delicious. It’s a simple enhancement that promises to elevate your traditional holiday meal into something truly special.
What To Serve With Your Glazed Ham: Perfect Side Pairings
A glorious tangerine-glazed ham deserves an array of equally delightful side dishes to complete your holiday feast. Here are some of our favorite pairings that complement the sweet and savory notes of the ham beautifully, ensuring a balanced and memorable meal:
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole: Creamy, cheesy, and utterly comforting, this casserole is a perfect rich accompaniment.
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes: Quick, easy, and naturally sweet, these add a lovely contrast to the savory ham.
- Scalloped Potatoes: Layers of thinly sliced potatoes baked in a rich, creamy sauce are always a crowd-pleaser.
- Corn Casserole: A sweet and savory dish that adds a delightful texture and flavor.
- Texas Roadhouse Dinner Rolls: Soft, fluffy, and perfect for soaking up any extra glaze or ham juices.
- **Roasted Green Beans with Almonds:** A fresh, crisp vegetable side to balance the richness.
- **Asparagus with Lemon:** Light and bright, providing a refreshing counterpoint to the meal.
These side dishes are chosen not only for their deliciousness but also for their ability to create a harmonious spread, ensuring every bite of your holiday meal is pure joy.
Creative Ideas for Leftover Ham
One of the best parts of a holiday ham is the promise of delicious leftovers! Don’t let those flavorful remnants go to waste. Ham is incredibly versatile and can be transformed into a variety of equally satisfying meals. Here are some fantastic ideas to give your leftover ham a second life:
- Ham and Cheese Biscuits: Perfect for a quick breakfast, brunch, or a savory snack.
- Ham and Cheese Sliders: An easy and popular appetizer or light meal that’s always a hit.
- Ham and Cheese Tortellini: A comforting pasta dish, ideal for a hearty weeknight dinner.
- Creamy Spring Gnocchi: Elevate your gnocchi with savory ham pieces and a creamy sauce.
- Ham and Bean Soup: A classic, warming soup that’s incredibly flavorful and easy to make.
- Split Pea Soup with Ham: Another timeless soup, perfect for using up the ham bone for extra depth of flavor.
- **Ham and Egg Breakfast Burritos:** A great way to start your day with protein and flavor.
- **Ham and Pineapple Fried Rice:** A sweet and savory Asian-inspired dish.
- **Ham and Cheese Quiche:** An elegant option for brunch or a light dinner.
With these creative ideas, your leftover ham will be just as exciting as the main holiday meal, ensuring nothing goes to waste and your family continues to enjoy its delicious flavor for days to come.
Tangerine Glazed Ham
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Ingredients
- 8-10 lb bone-in ham
- Salt and pepper
- 1 bunch fresh sage leaves
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 cup butter, softened and cut into chunks
- 2 whole tangerines, sliced thin and seeds removed (or oranges)
- 2 cups tangerine juice, (orange or grapefruit juice work well)
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/4 teaspoon whole cloves
- 2 lbs carrots
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Place the ham in a large roasting pan, fat side up. With a sharp knife, score the ham with cuts across the skin, about 2 inches apart and 1/2 inch deep. Cut diagonally down the slashes to form a diamond pattern.
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Season the meat with salt and pepper.
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Chop the sage leaves and put them in a bowl with the olive oil to make a paste. Rub this sage-oil mixture generously on the ham, ensuring the flavor penetrates into the scored slits. Bake the ham for 2 hours.
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To make the Tangerine Glaze: Place a saucepan over medium heat. Add the softened butter chunks, tangerine slices, tangerine juice, brown sugar, water, and cinnamon sticks with whole cloves. Slowly cook the liquid down, stirring occasionally, until it thickens into a syrupy glaze. This typically takes about 30-40 minutes.
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After the ham has been cooking for 2 hours, carefully pour the prepared tangerine glaze all over it, including the pieces of fruit and spices. Continue to cook for another 1 1/2 hours, basting with the delicious juices every 30 minutes to build layers of flavor and a beautiful crust.
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If using a spiral cut ham or any other type of pre-cooked ham, pour the glaze over it and begin basting every 30 minutes from the very start of cooking. The total baking time for these will be approximately 12-14 minutes per pound, ensuring it’s heated through to an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C).
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During the final 30 minutes of cooking, scatter the carrots around the ham in the roasting pan. Continue baking until the carrots are tender and the ham is perfectly glazed and heated through.
Notes
This delightful recipe is adapted from Food Network.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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Tips for Success and Storing Leftovers
To ensure your Tangerine Glazed Ham is a roaring success, here are a few extra tips: Always use a reliable meat thermometer to check for doneness, especially for larger hams. An internal temperature of 140°F (60°C) is ideal for precooked ham. For the glaze, feel free to adjust the spices to your liking; a touch of fresh ginger can add another layer of warmth. You can also prepare the glaze a day or two in advance and store it in the refrigerator, reheating it gently before applying to the ham.
For storing leftovers, allow the ham to cool completely before carving and storing. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or place in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Leftover ham also freezes well for up to 2-3 months; slice or dice it before freezing for easy portioning and thawing for your future delicious meals.
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