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When preparing ham, or any type of pork dish, the meat can really benefit from a sweet, fruity taste. The recipe we have here takes it to the next level with the addition of sweet red wine and dried cherries. Read on to find out how the ingredients come together to make a meal that is both sweet and savory.
Cherry Cooking Wine
The cherry and the cooking wine are ingredients that really set this dish apart.
Cooking wine is a type of wine that is not as flavorful as other types of wine so it will not be enjoyable to drink but it can be added to dishes to give you the flavor you need.
The type of wine you choose will affect the flavor it gives to your dish. Dry reds and whites are good for heavy dishes like stews, cream soups and wine-based sauces. Dry nutty wines and sweet fortified reds are good for desserts. Sweet whites are great with fruit tarts or flaky fish. Rice wine is good when used in marinades and Asian dishes.
For this dish, we use a sweet, red wine that works with the heaviness of the dish to give it a great hearty taste.
Cherries are known for having a flavor that is both sweet and tart. In this dish, 5 oz of dried cherries are mixed with wine, brown sugar, cornstarch, chicken stock and allspice. The mixture is then poured over the ham and it is but into an oven bag.
The ham is then heated in the oven. During this process, the cherry mixture sinks into the meat allowing the flavor to become thoroughly infused.
The excess cherry glaze is also served with the ham ensuring it will be as flavorful as possible.
The ham can then be served with any number of side dishes, however, rice will work nicely as the glaze can absorb into it to carry the flavor throughout the meal.
If you would rather go with something lighter, a salad with a nice, fruity dressing will work well too.
How to Glaze Ham with Wine
Glazing a ham is a great way to add texture and flavor. Following these directions will ensure the glaze is done to perfection.
Apply the Glaze: You can glaze ham with a heatproof spatula or a pastry brush. If you are using a pastry brush, go with a silicone kind as they are less likely to shed their bristles as they get older.
For larger hams, it is best to apply glaze in stages. So, after you mix your glaze, you can apply 1/3 cup of the mixture an hour before the ham is done. 20 minutes later you can apply another 1/3 cup. Apply the final 1/3 cup 15 minutes after that.
If you have a smaller ham, you can apply the glaze all at once. However, you can make your glaze sweeter and glossier by brushing the glaze with honey and maple syrup about 30 minutes after the application.
After glazing hams, a lot of home chefs will add cloves. However, this is a nonedible garnish and guests may try to bite into it.
Even though studding with cloves is traditional, you might decide to add a few ground cloves to the glaze to avoid any accidents. But, if you do want to keep with traditions, make sure all cloves are removed before you carve your ham.
We think our cherry red wine glaze is pretty exceptional, but if you are looking to change things up, here are a few other glazes you might want to try.
Brown Sugar and Orange Juice: This requires 1 ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 ½ oz. orange juice and ½ tsp. ground cloves. Combine in a small bowl and apply to ham 30 to 60 minutes before the end of cooking.
Brown Sugar and Mustard: To make this glaze, combine 1 ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 ¼ cup Dijon mustard and ½ tsp. ground cloves. Combine and apply to ham 30 to 60 minutes before cook time is completed.
Pineapple Mustard Glaze: This glaze is made by combining ½ cup pineapple jam, ¼ cup Dijon mustard, ¼ cup brown sugar and ½ tsp. ground cloves. Mix ingredients together and apply 30 to 60 minutes before cook time is completed.
A glaze is a great way to elevate the taste of your ham dish. What flavorings will you be using to take your meat to the next level?
If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to check out our Maple Pecan Pork Chops and our Pork Chops Devine.
PrintCherry and Red Wine Glazed Ham Recipe
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Description
When preparing ham, or any type of pork dish, the meat can really benefit from a sweet, fruity taste. The recipe we have here takes it to the next level with the addition of sweet red wine and dried cherries.
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 3–1/2 cups chicken stock
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 cup sweet red wine
- 5 ounces dried cherries
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 7 pounds fully-cooked bone-in spiral-sliced ham
- 1 large size oven bag
Instructions
- Stir the cornstarch and chicken stock in a small bowl until the mixture is smooth.
- Heat the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat.
- Add the allspice and cook for 1 minute.
- Increase the heat to medium-high. Stir the wine, cherries and brown sugar in the skillet and heat to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low. Cook until the mixture is slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Stir the cornstarch mixture in the skillet. Cook and stir until the mixture boils and thickens.
- Place the oven bag into a 3-quart shallow baking pan. Place the ham into the oven bag.
- Pour the cherry glaze over the ham. Close the bag with the bag tie.
- Cut 6 (1/2-inch) slits in the top of the bag.
- Bake at 250°F. for 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours or until the ham is heated through.
- Remove the ham from the oven bag to a serving platter. Spoon some of the cherry glaze over the ham.
- Serve the remaining cherry glaze with the ham. Serves 18.
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American