Here is my take on a straightforward roast gammon that is flavorful and simple to prepare. This version is ideal whether you are preparing a gammon for Easter, Christmas, or any holiday. This gammon is delicious hot for a roast or cold for a buffet. It is first roasted with the skin on for crunchy crackling, then it is covered in a fig and vanilla glaze. Your guests will adore it, I can promise you that. Additionally, there are so many ways to use the leftovers. We love delicious gammon sandwiches for lunches!
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Gammon With Fig And Vanilla Glaze Ingredients
Water
Water is tasteless, transparent and an inorganic substance which is also odourless and almost colourless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms. Water, even though neither provides energy, food, or organic micronutrients, it is is vital in our life. It is essential in this recipe to allow us to retain moisture in the gammon.
Shallots
Shallots contain antioxidants and compounds that fight inflammation, decrease triglycerides and reduce cholesterol levels.
Celery
Celery is a low-calorie vegetable that consists mostly of water, but also provides antioxidants and fibre.
Carrots
The fibre in carrots can help keep blood sugar levels under control. They’re loaded with vitamin A and beta-carotene, which evidence suggests can lower your diabetes risk.
Gammon
Gammon is the back leg of pork that has been dry-salted or brined and may or may not have been smoked. Because gammon steak is so high in protein and has such a low fat level, some types of ham can be beneficial for individuals who find that they do not obtain sufficient protein in their diet.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a Mediterranean native shrub with fragrant, needle-like, everlasting leaves used in cooking. Health benefits of rosemary include memory enhancement, aiding digestion and preventing brain aging.
Cloves
The fragrant flower buds known as cloves are found on trees in the Myrtaceae family. They originate from Indonesia and are frequently used in consumer goods as a spice, flavouring, or aroma. Health benefits of cloves include promoting bone health, regulating blood sugar and protection against cancer.
Peppercorns
Black pepper is an herbaceous perennial in the Piperaceae family that is grown for its peppercorn-shaped fruit, which is used as a seasoning and condiment and is typically dried. Peppercorns provide a good source of sodium, they assist with digestion and they can help with producing energy.
Vanilla Bean
The fruit of the vanilla orchid is the vanilla bean. They have a lustrous, almost waxy appearance and are dark brown. With hundreds of tiny flecks of vanilla beans inside the pod, vanilla beans are slim but hefty. Health benefits of vanilla beans include being high sources of protein, improving heart health and improving gut health.
Fig Jam
A type of fig preserve known as fig jam has entire fig chunks that have been softened by cooking. Figs have health benefits that include promoting digestive health, promoting healthy skin and managing blood sugar levels.
Sparkling Wine
This wine contains greater amount of carbon dioxide, hence bubbly is called sparkling wine. Despite the fact that the phrase frequently refers to champagne, countries in the European Union are required by law to only use that term to refer to goods made in France's Champagne area. Surprisingly, sparking wine is good for you because it contains antioxidants and improves energy.
Alternative Ingredients
- Instead of shallots, you can use regular white or red onions to get a similar sweet and savoury flavour.
- You can swap around vegetables to your preference and taste.
- If you can’t find gammon, cooked ham can be bought and glazed.
- Instead of rosemary, other herbs such as thyme, oregano or basil can be used.
- If you can’t find cloves, nutmeg or cinnamon may be used for the same spice profile.
- Instead of using a vanilla bean in this recipe, you can opt for a tablespoon of vanilla essence.
- If you can’t find fig jam, you can cook down fresh figs to soften them.
Serving Tips
- Serve the glazed gammon when it’s still warm.
- In addition to the roasted vegetables, you can serve the glazed gammon with potato wedges, mashed potato, a bean salad or a couscous salad.
- Bake for 45 minutes per kg of gammon.
- We add pineapple slices and glace cherries to the top of ours and brown it lightly before serving.
Storage Tips
- Store any leftovers tightly covered or in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 3-4 days.
- The meal can also be frozen after cooking and consumed within 2 months.
- The vegetables can be prepared, chopped and kept in the fridge up to 1 day before preparing the meal.
Gammon With Fig And Vanilla Glaze Recipe
Equipment
- Roasting Pan
Ingredients
Ingredients For The Gammon
- 9 kilogram Bone-in cured gammon
- 3 Sprigs of rosemary
- 4-6 Shallots or small brown onions, halved
- 1 teasepoon Cloves
- 2 Carrots, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Whole peppercorns
- 2 stalks Celery, chopped
- 1.5 litres Chicken stock or water
- Spices of your choice
Ingredients For The Glaze
- 1 Vanilla bean, split lengthwise
- 1 cup Fig jam
- 2 ½ cups Sparkling wine
Method
Directions For The Gammon
- Preheat the oven to 160°C.
- In a roasting dish, place the, celery, shallots, rosemary, carrots, cloves and peppercorns. Put the gammon on top of the vegetables/spices and fill the tin with water until it reaches 3/4 of the way up the sides. Roast for 5 to 5 1/2 hours under 2-3 layers of securely fitted tin foil.
- Cut off the skin and enough ham fat so that just 1/2 centimeter of fat is left before glazing the gammon. Cut the fat into a diamond-shaped pattern by making crisscrossing cuts with a sharp knife.
- Brush the glaze onto the gammon. Place the gammon in the oven after glazing it. When the ham is fully heated through and the glaze is well coloured and sticky, bake it for approximately 45 minutes at 180°C, brushing every 10 minutes.
- Before carving, take the ham out of the oven and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.
Directions For The Glaze
- Heat the sparkling wine, vanilla, and fig jam for 5–8 minutes, or until the glaze is just beginning to thicken.
- Remove from heat and brush onto gammon.
Final Word
Too frequently, gammon is only prepared once a year at Christmas and even then, only when it can serve an entire village. However, the smaller pieces, weighing around a kilogram, are affordable and sufficient for six people. Perhaps there will even be enough left over for a lunch. My preference is thin slices placed inside a soft roll with watercress sprigs and mouth-tingling chilli jam. The kids love gammon sandwiches with a little bit of mayonnaise and mustard. Gammon is versatile and delicious and not just for celebrations!
