ArcaMax

Many recipes for spiral ham produce meat that’s parched and leathery on the exterior with a glaze that flavors only the outermost edge. For moist meat throughout, we placed our ham in an oven bag, which traps juices and creates a moist environment that cooks it in less time than the dry air of the oven would, and reheated it in a 250-degree oven. We then brushed the ham with a sweet-tart caramel glaze.

Since the sugar in the mixture was already caramelized, the glaze needed only a few minutes in a hot oven to acquire a deep mahogany sheen. Finally, we thinned some of the remaining caramel with ham juices to create a sauce to accompany the smoky, salty ham.

Spiral-Sliced Ham Glazed with Cider-Vinegar Caramel

Serves 12 to 14

1 (7- to 10-pound) spiral-sliced, bone-in half ham, preferably shank end

1 large oven bag

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup water

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

1 1/4 cups cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon five-spice powder

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 250 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a wire rack in the sheet. Unwrap ham and, if necessary, discard plastic disk covering bone. Place ham cut side down in an oven bag. Insert temperature probe (if using) through top of ham into center. Tie bag shut and place ham cut side down on the prepared wire rack. Bake until the center registers 110 F, 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.

2. Bring sugar, water, and corn syrup to boil in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, without stirring, until mixture is straw-colored, 6 to 8 minutes. While sugar mixture cooks, microwave vinegar in bowl until steaming, about 90 seconds; set aside.

3. Once sugar mixture is straw-colored, reduce heat to low and continue to cook, swirling saucepan occasionally, until mixture is a dark amber, just smoking and registers 360 to 370 F, 2 to 5 minutes longer. Off heat, add warm vinegar a little at a time, whisking after each addition (some caramel may harden but will melt as sauce continues to cook). When bubbling subsides, add pepper and five-spice powder. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced to 1 1/3 cups, 5 to 7 minutes.

4. Remove sheet from oven and increase oven temperature to 450 F. Once the oven reaches 450, remove ham from bag and transfer to a carving board. Reserve 1/4 cup juices from bag; discard bag and remaining juices. Remove wire rack, leaving foil in place, and return ham to sheet, cut side down. Brush ham evenly with 1/3 cup caramel. Transfer sheet to oven and cook until glaze is bubbling and starting to brown in places, 5 to 7 minutes. Add reserved juices to remaining 1 cup caramel and whisk to combine.

5. Slice ham and serve, passing caramel sauce separately.

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