Toasted Spiced Ham Drizzled in Honey
- 1 boneless country ham
- 2 cups honey, for glazing ham
- 2 tablespoons Toasted Spice Rub, recipe follows
- 1 tablespoon thyme, chopped fine
- 6 celery stalks
- 1/4 cup fennel seeds
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
- 1 tablespoon peppercorns
- 1 1/2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup (1-ounce) pure California sweet chili powder*
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Place ham on an open brown paper bag for easy clean up.
- With the tip of a paring knife carefully score a 1-inch grid pattern around the outside of the ham.
- Brush the entire surface of the meat on all sides with some of the honey.
- Season the entire surface of the meat on all sides with the toasted spice rub and thyme.
- Add about a half cup of water to the base of the roaster.
- Place ham on several celery sticks in the roasting pan.
- Cook for 1 hour.
- Every 15 minutes, baste ham with juices that collect in the base of the roaster and the honey.
- Let rest for 15 minutes before carving as desired.
- Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat.
- (Toasting freshens spices, releases their oils, and makes them more fragrant, as well as adding a new dimension of flavor.)
- When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly.
- Turn on the exhaust fan; add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan.
- Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool.
- Put in a blender with the sweet chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground.
- If you have a small spice mill blender or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes.
- Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients.
- Keep the spice mix in a glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
- *Chef's Tip: Taste your chili powder and, if spicy and hot, cut back the amount.
- California chiles are almost sweet, not hot.
- Yield: 1 cup
country ham, honey, toasted spice rub, thyme, celery stalks, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, peppercorns, red pepper, chili powder, kosher salt, ground cinnamon
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/toasted-spiced-ham-drizzled-in-honey-recipe.html (may not work)