Tested and Perfected by Food and Wine
Pomegranate-Jalapeño-Glazed Ham. Photo © Con Poulos
© Con Poulos

Pomegranate-Jalapeño-Glazed Ham

Contributed by
  • ACTIVE: 30 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 2 HRS 30 MIN
  • SERVINGS: 12

At Akasha in L.A., chef Akasha Richmond prepares a sweet-and-spicy glaze for ham using house-made pomegranate-jalapeño jelly. An easier alternative: doctoring store-bought jalapeño jelly with pomegranate juice.

  1. One 7-pound, bone-in, spiral-cut smoked ham
  2. 1 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth
  3. 20 whole cloves
  4. One 10-ounce jar jalapeño jelly (1 cup)
  5. 1 cup sweetened pomegranate juice
  6. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  7. 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  8. 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  9. 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Place the ham in a large roasting pan and add the chicken stock. Stud the ham all over with the cloves.
  2. In a medium saucepan, bring the jalapeño jelly, pomegranate juice and lemon juice to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until slightly thickened, 10 minutes. Whisk in the mustard, cinnamon and ginger and simmer until reduced to about 1 1/4 cups, about 5 minutes.
  3. Drizzle half of the glaze over the ham and cover with foil. Roast for 1 1/2 hours, basting frequently, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the ham registers 125°. Remove the foil and brush the ham with any remaining glaze. Roast for 30 minutes longer, until the top is lightly caramelized. Transfer to a platter. Discard the cloves. Pour the pan juices into a bowl and serve with the ham.

Suggested Pairing

Rich red Rhône blend.