Classic Pineapple Apricot Glazed Ham
Ingredients
Ham:
One 9- to 10-pound bone-in fully-smoked ham (butt or shank half)
2 tablespoons whole cloves
Glaze:
Zest and juice of 2 limes
8 thin slices fresh ginger
2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
1 cup apricot preserves
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
Directions
For the ham: Remove the ham from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Trim off any skin from the ham. Use a sharp paring knife to score through the fat in a diagonal crosshatch pattern without cutting through to the meat. Insert the cloves into the ham, placing them at the intersections of the cuts (you may have some cloves left over).
Put the ham, flat-side down, on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1/4 inch water into the bottom of the pan. Transfer to the oven and roast until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham registers 130 degrees F, about 2 hours and 30 minutes (about 15 minutes per pound).
Meanwhile make the glaze: Squeeze the lime juice into a small saucepan. Add the ginger and pineapple juice. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Strain, then stir in the lime zest, apricot preserves and Dijon.
Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Pour half the pineapple glaze over the ham and brush to coat. If the water in the bottom of the pan has evaporated, add more. Return the ham to the oven and roast, basting every 10 minutes with the remaining glaze, until glossy and well browned, about 45 minutes more.
Let the ham rest for 15 minutes before carving. Carve the ham into slices and serve.
