How to Make Limerick Ham
Limerick ham is a delicious Irish tradition. The ham is typically a cured leg of pork that can be prepared in many different ways, including smoking, brining or even by adding a coat of honey.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 ham between 3 and 5 lbs.
- Apple cider
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp. mustard
- 20 whole cloves
- Casserole pan
- Large pot or sauce pan
- Foil oven bag
Instructions
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1
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Be sure to move the oven rack so it is in the middle of the oven, which should give your ham enough clearance inside.
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2
Put the ham in a large sauce pan or a pot and cover it with cold water. Bring the ham to boil slowly. Once it reaches the boiling point, pour the water out and replace it with cider. Allow it to boil again, and then lower the heat to simmering for 20 minutes. After that, remove the ham from heat for 30 minutes.
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3
Remove the ham from the pot so you can skin it and score the remaining fat with a diamond pattern. Stud the ham with whole cloves. If the cloves won't stick, poke holes in the ham and push the cloves inside.
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4
Mix the sugar and mustard in a bowl. Rub the mixture into the ham, making sure to coat it at every point. You may need to add more sugar or mustard to the mixture to have enough.
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5
Bake the ham for 10 minutes for every pound. Once the ham is done, remove it and cut it as soon as it's cool enough to do so. Be sure to remove the cloves before serving.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't want to use brown sugar for this recipe, substitute honey instead. Mustard can sometimes be substituted with certain barbecue sauces, but you must be sure not to use too much or else your ham will not taste right.
Make your Limerick ham less fattening by cutting off the layer of fat before you cook it. If you do this, put the ham in a foil oven bag to retain moisture.
Do not use this recipe for a whole Limerick ham. Full hams need to be immersed in cold water overnight before they are cooked.
Do not make this recipe ahead of time. Limerick ham is best served fresh. If you can't make the ham in time for your party, slice it before putting it in the refrigerator.
