When it comes to holiday meals, few dishes are as classic and crowd-pleasing as a succulent baked ham. This timeless centrepiece offers a combination of ease and richness that makes it an ideal choice for your festive feast. Whether you’re hosting a large gathering or an intimate family dinner, a baked ham is sure to delight and satisfy your guests.
The Convenience of Baked Ham
One of the primary advantages of serving baked ham during the holidays is its convenience. Unlike some other main dishes that require extensive preparation and constant attention, a ham is relatively low-maintenance. Many hams come pre-cooked and pre-smoked, so all you need to do is heat it through and add your desired glaze or flavoring. This time-saving aspect allows you to focus on other aspects of your holiday meal planning, such as side dishes, desserts, and decorations.
Rich Flavors to Savour
Despite its ease of preparation, baked ham is far from bland or boring. In fact, it boasts a rich, savory flavor that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. The smoky undertones and tender, juicy texture of a well-prepared ham are simply unmatched. Whether you prefer a classic honey or brown sugar glaze, or you opt for more adventurous flavors like maple-mustard or pineapple-teriyaki, the possibilities for enhancing the natural deliciousness of ham are endless.
A Versatile Centerpiece
Another great benefit of serving baked ham for the holidays is its versatility. Depending on your preferences and the size of your gathering, you can choose from a variety of ham sizes and styles. From petite and boneless to massive, bone-in hams, there’s an option to suit every occasion. And if you have any leftovers, ham is incredibly versatile in dishes like soups, sandwiches, omelets, and more, ensuring that none of it goes to waste.
Impressive Presentation
Finally, a beautifully presented baked ham makes for a truly impressive and festive centerpiece. Whether you choose to glaze it with a shiny, sweet coating or simply let the natural beauty of the ham shine through, it’s sure to be the star of your holiday table. You can even get creative with garnishes like fresh herbs, citrus slices, or decorative cloves, adding a touch of visual appeal to this already stunning dish.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for an easy, delicious, and impressive main course for your holiday meal, a baked ham is an excellent choice. With its rich flavors, time-saving convenience, versatility, and stunning presentation, it’s sure to be a hit with your guests and create lasting memories around your holiday table.
Try my easy holiday ham which is great because you just throw it into the oven and walk away.
Make my favorite ultimate brown sugar sauce to go with it.
The leftovers are great to have on hand and I often save the bone to makeover into my Hearty Irish Ham Soup.
The Easiest Holiday Baked Ham
Ingredients
- 17-20 pound fully cooked bone in ham smoked if you can find it, spiral hams are great
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 275°F.
- Put the ham in a roasting pan or a big cast-iron skillet and cover loosely with tin foil. Let it sit in the oven for 7.5 - 8 hours
Notes
Hearty Irish Ham Soup
Ingredients
- 1 cooked ham bone (meaty preferred)
- 1 cup left over ham, finely chopped if your bone has been picked pretty clean
- 4 cups chicken broth low sodium
- 4 cups water
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 2 large parsnips and or carrots chopped
- 4 – 6 large potatoes keto/gluten: use sweede or turnip
- 1/2 cup Flour keto/gluten: use 1-3 tsp. xantham gum
- 1 pinch freshly ground salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp. parsley chopped
Instructions
- Combine the ham bone, ham, water, stock and vegetables in your soup pot and bring to a boil over medium heat, and then reduce to simmer for 40 minutes. If there is meat still on the bone, it should be easily removed by this point. Shred and put it in your soup.
- Peel and cut potatoes (or sweede/turnip) into small cubes bring back to the boil, then reduce again to simmer for another 15 minutes or until tender.
- In a medium saucepan, add the flour over medium heat and stir as it turns brown. Don’t let the flour burn. Gluten free/keto can ignore this step.
- Take some liquid from the pot and mix with the flour or xantham gum to thicken. You can adjust the thickness of the soup by the amount of the thickening mixture you add. If it gets too thick, simply add more liquid.
- Season with salt, pepper and sprinkle the parsley on top when you serve.
