Chef John's Honey-glazed Ham

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 3/4 cup water, or as needed
• 2 whole star anise
• 12 whole cloves, or more to taste
• 1 (7 pound) country-style ham
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 35 mins

Ready Time: 2 hrs 50 mins


• preheat oven to 325 degrees f (165 degrees c).
• pour water, star anise, and cloves into the bottom of a roasting pan. place a roasting rack into the pan over the water, anise, and cloves; place ham on rack. cut 1/4-inch deep slashes 1/2-inch apart lengthwise and crosswise across the top of the entire ham.
• bake ham in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. whisk brown sugar, honey, mustard, vinegar, black pepper, worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl until glaze has a thick, smooth consistency.
• brush glaze all over ham. continue baking ham, brushing glaze on every 20 minutes, until glaze is deep golden and ham is heated through, about 2 hours 10 minutes. an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 130 degrees f (54 degrees c).
• use a kitchen torch to heat the glaze on the ham until it is crispy and caramelized, 2 to 5 minutes.