Christmas Pineapple Gammon/ham

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

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 4 lbs gammon ham
• 1/4 pint unsweetened pineapple juice
• 3 tablespoons golden syrup or 3 tablespoons clear honey, if you prefer
• 1 (7 ounce) can pineapple rings, drained & cut into chunks (or use ready diced)
• 20 -25 whole cloves
• the tip of a teaspoon cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 1: put the gammon/ham into large saucepan & cover with cold water. boil for 10 minutes, then taste the water, if it's still very salty, change the water. bring back to the boil then simmer for 30 minutes.
• 2 2: preheat oven to 180c/350f/gas4.
• 3 3: remove gammon from the water. leave to cool slightly.
• 4 4: using a sharp knife, remove the skin, leaving as much of the fat as possible. score the exposed fat in a diamond pattern.
• 5 5: put the gammon in a roasting tin & bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
• 6 6: in the meantime, mix the pineapple juice, cinnamon & golden syrup/honey in a pan & warm over a low heat until syrup becomes runny.
• 7 7: remove the gammon from oven & increase the temperature to 220c/425f/gas7. pour warm syrup mixture over the whole gammon.
• 8 8: attach pineapple pieces to the scored fat, securing each with a clove if using. if not using cloves, secure pineapple pieces with cocktail sticks, but be careful.
• 9 9: return gammon to the oven for 20 minutes, basting twice, until gammon is tender.
• 10 10: remove from oven & allow to rest for about 5-10 minutes. carve & serve hot or cold.