This Christmas Gammon Recipe has got to be our most poular holiday roast, year after year and it simply never fails to impress! I'm sharing a step by step method on how to make Gammon, the gammom glaze, alternatives, tips and so much more, so let's get right to it!

Roast Gammon Recipe

I've shared yet another Gammon recipe this year and this time it was my Instant Pot Gammon because Instant Pot recipes are as favorible as the air fryer recipes in our kitchen.

This Easy Frangelico Glazed Gammon Recipe was posted back in January of 2021 and if you notice, the basis of roasted gammon is the same. You can tweak it in terms of weight for cooking time and the glaze in terms of ingredients, it's very customizable. These mentioned gammons are just the ones posted so you can imagine the unposted ones! Guess that's the reason why I've officially earned the name 'gammon mom'.

Ingredients For A Roasted Gammon Recipe

With only a few essentials, you can have the best roast gammon recipe on your table this Christmas. Here we go...

Deboned gammon: Here we are using a 3.2kg gammon. When you do buy your gammon consider the size of the pot that it will simmer in before being roasted.

Celery and carrots: These veggies make up our trivet for a stock later so it depends on whether you want to add them or not but why not? These are simple veggies that also add flavor as opposed to simmering the gammon is plain water. You can add a roughly chopped onion in with the celery and carrots.

Coriander seeds: Go into the trivet as well as black peppercorns and about 2 bay leaves.

Note! You can also simmer the gammon in a vegetable trivet without coriander seeds. However, coriander seeds is a classic combination with pork (not in all cultures) and in a vegetable trivet they enhance the overall profile. Feel free to experiment with your own herb/spice choice. Coriander seeds are one of many that can be used, the goal here is to simply enhance flavors.

Cloves: Both decorative and cooking so feel free to add a few cloves into your gammon simmer.

How To Make Gammon or Ham Glaze

This gammon recipe has an easy yet fantastic glaze thats more than enough for a few bastings. Use this gammon glaze (or ham, since gammon once cooked is ham) as a guide and taste along.

But first, let's touch on one of the ingredients - Muscovado Sugar...I have to include this because it's a question always asked;

What Is Muscovado Sugar?

Muscovado sugar is a type of unrefined cane sugar. It has a rich dark brown color and a strong flavor. It ranges from light to dark brown, depending on its molasses content. Darker varieties have a more intense flavor.

Gammon Glaze Ingredients

Muscovado sugar: or any other brown sugar

Honey: We need the consistency that honey gives this glaze (you can also use maple syrup).

Dijon mustard: The mustard enhances the flavor with a tangy, sharp taste and it gives a bit of balance to the sweetness of the honey and sugar.

Butter: Richness and a smooth cohesive combination.

How To Make Glaze For Gammon

Now that we've discussed the ingredients in length lets cook the glaze!

In a saucepan, add the glaze ingredients, set the heat to medium and bring to a simmer. It's always a good idea to taste your glaze because there are a number of ingredients you can add to suit your taste. Orange juice, apple cider vinegar, pineapple juice, a pinch of salt, these are simply a guideline for your glaze. Once the ingredients are combined remove from the heat. By choice you can add a hint of brandy which is always popular with Christmas recipes, that's optional.

When the gammon is cooked, brush the glaze over the gammon and bake. Full recipe in recipe card below.

How To Cook Gammon

Simmer: Take a large pot of cold water (it should be at least ¾ of the pot) to cover the gammon. Add your favorite vegetables to that water. Here the veggies we use are onions, carrots, and celery stalks. Add spices such as black peppercorns, bay leaves, and mustard seeds to your preference. We used a mix of these natural spices.

How Long To Cook Gammon?

The size of the gammon determines the cooking time. I usually give 20 minutes for 500 grams of gammon. Bring the gammon and veggies to a boil and then immediately drop it to simmer for at least 2 hours. Because this was a large gammon, I added an additional 20 minutes as it simmered down on the stove. So in total 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Do you cook gammon with the net on?

Yes, the netting helps the gammon maintain it's shape so don't remove it until after it's cooked. The same applies if you're cooking a ham with string, it's there for a reason, so leave it alone.

Cooling down: Remove the gammon from the stove and place it on a plate/oven tray. A gammon of this size takes 20 to 30 minutes to cool. In the meantime, put the liquid and vegetables through a strainer, discard the vegetables, and save the liquid stock for some other recipe.

Tip! Use a sharp scirrors to cut the string and begin to remove. Don't try to remove the netting while the gammon is still hot, it will not come off easily and may tear pieces of the meat off with it.

Removing the skin: The skin (rind) and the net are removed. Use your fingers to grip the rind and gently pull back the rinsed.

This video is for my Easy Frangelico Glazed Gammon Recipe. The method is the same so although it doesnt show you all these steps shared here, it will give you the gist of how to remove the skin.

The fat on the gammon enhances its flavor, is good for health, and keeps the gammon juicy. Use a sharp knife to make diamond shapes in the fat and try your best not to go too deep in the gammon. After boiling, gammon is already cooked, so the fat is quite tender. The knife will surely do magic so let it lead you.

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Preparing glaze: For preparing the glaze, mix the glaze ingredients and simmer just until the ingredients are combined. My suggestion would be to not over simmer, it thickens the glaze and you end up with less in the saucepan! With a little more left in the pan, you can glaze when serving. Besides, the glaze will thicken on its own anyway.

Brushing glaze: If you like, you can add cloves to your gammon ham and then add your glaze and let it flow over the gammon. You can also brush the glaze; over as opposed to pouring. Use light strokes to avoid dislodging the cloves.

Baking in the oven: After the gammon is boiled, peeled off, diamond-shaped, cloves added, and glazed, it is all set for roast. Preheat the oven to 375 F or 190 C and bake the gammon for a good 20 to 30 minutes.

Baste, baste, baste your gammon for best results!

And it’s ready to serve.

Glazed Gammon South Africa

This is such a popular recipe during the Christimas holidays (at least here in South Africa it is) and if you're wanting to buy one, get it early, they sell out! Here are few things to look for when buying your gammon.

Check the color: The color says everything! It needs to look bright and fresh, no dull looking pork meat.

Buy fresh: Buy fresh gammon, you can freeze it when you get home, but buy it fresh.

Buy local: Woolworths has fresh gammon with a sticker that reads: 100% South African Pork, support local business and buy local. If you have or know of an organic farm (and there are many around and it's becoming more popular, order early from them.

"What does "Kinder To Sow" Mean?

The 'kinder to sow' label on the packet of pork means that there were no sow stalls used to restrain pregnant sows for extended periods. You must agree that even though you eat meat, that is heartbreaking so consider your meat purchases.

Buying Frozen Gammon

The problem with buying a frozen gammon is that you have no idea how long it's been frozen. Some might argue that you can freeze gammon for years or indefinitely but with respect, there's no need to do that today, there are fresh gammons.

How Long Can You Freeze Raw Gammon?

Up to 6 months is reasonable.

Storing Left Over Gammon / Ham

In a container (closed) in the fridge or a light wrap in alluminium foil.

Frequently Asked Questions Oven Baked Gammon

Is gammon and ham the same thing?

These are both cuts of pork meat that come from the hind legs of a pig. Gammon is cured in the same way that bacon is, so they need to be cooked before eating. Ham on the otherhand has either been dry-cured or cooked therefore needs no cooking. Once gammon is cooked it becomes ham which makes it great for leftover mayo sandwiches on boxing day!

Do I need a large pot or dutch oven for the gammon?

Yes you need a pot that the gammon will fit into so consider that when buying your Christmas gammon! Otherwise, you have to simmer it on the stove in an oven tray (one that can go on the stove top and in the oven). If so, don't forget to cover the tray with alluminium foil while it simmers.

Tips and Suggestions

Take into consideration the size of your pot when buying your gammon.

Use your glaze to baste as often as you can. It takes a few minutes to pull the gammon out of the oven, baste and return to continue roasting but it's worth it!

I would suggest not simmering the glaze for long at all or it becomes too thick. In which case you have to get it back on the stove (or microwave) for a quick warm up to help it melt down.

Play around with your glaze, if it's too liquid, add more sugar, if you want more of a tang, add mustard or cider vinegar which will also help thin it out.

Leftover Christmas Gammon

Sliced ham sandwiches, salads, pasta bakes and pies are some of recipes suitable for your leftover gammon. (and worth every minute!)

Make Ahead Gammon

To get ahead of your Christmas lunch and to free the stove up, you can simmer the gammom the day before. This will leave you with glaze and roasting it.

Glazing Gammon The Day Before?

Yes you can but leave some of the glaze for warming up and serving. You will also need a very large piece of aluminum foil to loosely cover it overnight. Place it in the fridge and take out to reach room temperature an hour before warming and re-glazing.

What To Serve With Gammon?

Serving gammon is easy with any of your favorite side dishes. Try to mix and match your best Christmas recipes like roasted vegetables, brussel sprouts, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes are all great classic choices.

These sides are perfect for any roast meat and are always loved and enjoyed by those around the table.

Christmas Gammon Recipe is a delicious meat roast that makes a perfect centerpiece! There's no mistaking my gammon recipe and a quick and easy glaze. Merry Christmas!

More Delicious Meat Roasts

If you take a photo of your dish and share it on Instagram, please tag me @anosmickitchen and use the hashtag #anosmickitchen! Happy cooking????

RATING: Ratings and comments play an important role for this blog to grow and continue sharing free recipes with you, so please do leave a star rating and comment. Thank you, happy holidays and cooking!

Please note that I'm using a range of photo's from various gammon cooks over time. The images, ingredients, recipe method and information is all mine.

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Christmas Gammon Recipe