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Christmas

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DH has talked me into getting a joint of gammon for Christmas lunch ...

79 replies

MoodySky · 19/12/2021 16:11

What do I do with it? We already have a large chicken (no one is that keen on turkey), but I can't see how gammon "goes" with all the other stuff, particularly gravy!

Any tips/suggestions most welcome.

OP posts:
SusannaQueen · 19/12/2021 18:01

I've used the Dairy Book of Home Cookery, party gammon recipe for the last 20yrs. The book's older than me! We always have gammon with Xmas dinner, although I cook it on Christmas Eve as our oven isn't big enough.

DH has talked me into getting a joint of gammon for Christmas lunch ...
Nomoreusernames1244 · 19/12/2021 18:01

Any tips/suggestions most welcome

Mine would be as it’s him who wants the gammon, maybe he should cook it?

Seriously, why does his choice mean you having to plan what to do with it? He should have thought of that.

Tell him you’ll sort the chicken and stuff to go with it, the gammon is his responsibility.

longtompot · 19/12/2021 18:09

I do a baked ham for Christmas day. I cook it in a 2l bottle of ginger beer for how ever long it takes, with a bit of extra stuff. I then bake it in the oven with a marmalade and mustard glaze. I serve it with Cumberland sauce which is a mustard and orange and other bits thin sauce which tastes amazing. You don't need gravy on the ham, unless people like it.
We are also having a small turkey joint and maybe a joint of beef or lamb, depends what's in the shop when we do our shop.

Wizzbangfizz · 19/12/2021 18:12

Do it in the slow cooker in Coke. It also forms a key part of our Boxing Day as we have it for breakfast (I look forward to this meal the most at Xmas) - sliced gammon, left over fried mash in butter, fried eggs and toast!

BluebellsGreenbells · 19/12/2021 18:29

Just don’t poor the gravy over everything!

Worst part about visiting relatives! Why can’t they put it in the side.

stayingaliveisawayoflife · 19/12/2021 18:30

@HelloDulling definitely mash and veggies. I do make my own parsley sauce as well which I am very proud of!

DonttouchthatLarry · 19/12/2021 18:33

We always have an orange glazed gammon joint alongside turkey or sometimes chicken. DH doesn't have gravy on it but I do. Then we have leftovers with jacket spuds or egg and chips.

medwench · 19/12/2021 18:37

So, we live Gammon in our house. DH soaks it overnight, then cooks it in cranberry and apple juice with celery carrot an onion and a bay leaf. It is super tender and delicious. Can't comment on gravy as I don't eat gravy, but cheese sauce is common with Gammon so maybe have cauliflower cheese with it in place of gravy?

nonowaynever · 19/12/2021 18:48

It's gorgeous with carrot and potato mash.

Now I want gammon too.

irishfarmer · 19/12/2021 18:50

We always have turkey and ham (gammon) with stuffing etc. The ham is always my fav part.

pollymere · 19/12/2021 18:58

I generally boil it because there isn't room in the oven. It wouldn't be Christmas without a ham!

DogInATent · 19/12/2021 19:16

I always do gammon for Boxing Day.

Slow cook in cider with onion, bay leaf, juniper berries, etc. a couple of days ahead. Allow to cool in the cooking liquor (this is important). Put in a jug/bowl in the fridge still covered with the liquor.

Remove from the fridge, take out of the liquid and pat dry. Remove any skin, but leave a layer of fat. Score the fat, and stud with cloves.
Mix some honey with mustard and give it a few seconds in the microwave to liquify. Paint over the gammon with a pastry brush. Roast on a high heat for 30-40 minutes. Put it in the oven after the chicken whilst the chicken is resting.

CombatBarbie · 19/12/2021 19:17

Slow cooker with a can of coke, what's left is used for sandwiches boxing day.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 19/12/2021 19:23

Used to have to do it along with Turkey/Chicken/Duck/Beef because everybody else wanted gammon. My own fault for trying it one year and they decided it was better than anything else I made ratbags.

I would boil it with spices - random selection of clove, pepper, star anise, cardamom, caraway, bay, juniper, orange an lemon peel, etc (essentially gin ingredients) after changing out the saltiest first boil water, then roast it with bitter orange marmalade, more spices and random fruit (plums, apples, pears, rhubarb, whatever I had plenty of).

In terms of what goes with it, there's the traditional parsley sauce and boiled potatoes version, gravy and cauliflower cheese/steamed swede/carrots/peas and bread sauce - or what I think is the best, chucking a load of split peas into the second cooking stock and making pease pudding (which I'd eat tons of in preference to the gammon, as whilst I may very well make a nice one, I don't actually like it - or pork as a whole - that much).

Unfortunately, I made a second error when I mentioned to DP one year that I used to do gammon. His bloody eyes lit up, so I had to make it that year and he asks if I can do it every year since.

I've compromised and make it for New Year now.

maffhew · 19/12/2021 19:51

@rookiemere

Stupid question as I've got a gammon joint for the slow cooker. The mustard and honey sounds nice , could I use English mustard or does it need to be whole grain?
I use English mustard. I'm no nigella, I just whack a teaspoon in with a dollop of honey Smile
JurgensCakeBabyJesus · 19/12/2021 20:02

Simmer in Guinness or cider then roast, glaze with honey/mustard near the end. Gammon is the reason cauliflower cheese needs to go on a roast.

AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 19/12/2021 20:02

I like it quite simple really. Soak (submerge) overnight to draw out excess salt, then boil with new water, about five peppercorns, a couple of bay leaves, a chopped onion or shallot and some herbs. It really delicately fragrances the ham and the resulting stock is great as a basis for split pea soup... or any veg soup to be fair.

Madcats · 19/12/2021 20:23

Nigella's ham cooked in Coke is quite nice if you have the black treacle etc.

You need a big pot (and then you spend several days wondering what to do with a mountain of ham).

PigletInABlanketJohn · 19/12/2021 21:04

boil or marinade it before roasting to draw the salt out

Left overs can be thickly sliced and fried as a superior breakfast bacon

or chunked and used for a minestrone or ham and bacon soup.

rwalker · 19/12/2021 21:20

I'm with OP gammon and gravy vile. Have it on the edge of my plate away from gravy

Slowchimes · 19/12/2021 21:34

@Madcats

Nigella's ham cooked in Coke is quite nice if you have the black treacle etc.

You need a big pot (and then you spend several days wondering what to do with a mountain of ham).

Yes it does go on for a while that's for sure!

I love the sound of PigletJohn's fried version too!

We have it shredded on top of a bowl of pea and ham soup!

Flipflopblowout · 19/12/2021 21:50

I would sooner eat corned beef sandwiches than gammon on Christmas day.

celiamary · 19/12/2021 21:51

as @AtomHeartMotherOfGod says but we do it in pressure cooker. Slice of Gammon on everyone's plates. We prefer the smoked and use shallots not onion.
Works well together.
We are doing a special meal for 3 with Gammon and a Turkey thigh joint (the drumstick). Cold ham lasts for ages.

PiddleOfPuppies · 19/12/2021 21:54

Gammon and cauliflower cheese is the only way to eat bubble and squeak on Boxing Day!

mama4321 · 19/12/2021 22:06

Do you buy smoked or unsmoked gammon to have as a turkey alternative?