The Ultimate Guide to Making Delicious Ham from Scratch

Making ham from scratch may sound daunting but with the right recipe technique you can create a delicious impressive dish that is sure to impress your guests. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make ham from scratch.

Ingredients

To make ham from scratch you will need:

– A 10-12 pound uncured pork leg
– 1 cup coarse sea salt
– 1 cup brown sugar
– 2 tablespoons pink curing salt
– 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
– 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
– 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
– 1 tablespoon allspice berries
– 1 tablespoon juniper berries

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the curing mixture
In a small bowl combine the sea salt brown sugar pink curing salt black peppercorns coriander seeds mustard seeds allspice berries juniper berries. Mix well.

Step 2: Trim the pork leg
Trim any excess fat off the pork leg using a sharp knife. Leave a thin layer of fat to keep the meat moist during the curing process.

Step 3: Apply the curing mixture
Rub the curing mixture all over the pork leg making sure to cover every part of the meat. Place the leg in a large plastic bag seal it tightly.

Step 4: Cure the meat
Place the bagged pork leg in the refrigerator for at least a week preferably two. Turn the meat every couple of days to help distribute the curing mixture evenly.

Step 5: Smoke the ham
Take the meat out of the bag rinse it thoroughly under cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. Set up your smoker according to the manufacturer’s instructions smoke the ham at 200-225°F for 4-5 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Step 6: Let the ham rest
Remove the ham from the smoker let it rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing serving.

Conclusion

Making ham from scratch is a rewarding delicious process that is easier than you might think. With a little patience the right ingredients you can create a succulent flavorful ham that will have your guests coming back for seconds. Try this recipe today impress your friends family with your culinary skills!