This juicy ham is brushed with a sweet, sticky glaze of bourbon and honey gently flavored with fennel, coriander, and star anise.
Ingredients
- One 18-pound, bone-in whole or spiral-cut smoked ham, at room temperature
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
- 4 star anise pods
- 4 bay leaves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 garlic cloves
- One 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 1 dried red chile
- 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
- 2 cups bourbon
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- 1Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the ham in a large roasting pan and add 1 cup of water. Cover the pan with foil and bake the ham for about 2 hours and 45 minutes, basting occasionally with any accumulated juices, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 120°F.
- 2Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the sugar with 2 tablespoons of water and cook over moderately high heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until a light golden caramel forms, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and quickly add the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, star anise, bay leaves, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, chile, and orange zest; let sit for about 20 seconds, until fragrant. Carefully add the bourbon, soy sauce, and honey. Return the glaze to a simmer and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
- 3Remove the foil and brush the ham with the glaze. Roast for 30 minutes longer, glazing every 10 minutes, until the top is lightly caramelized. Transfer the ham to a platter and let rest for 15 minutes. Skim the fat from the pan juices and transfer them to a bowl. Serve the ham with the pan juices.