Boiled Virginia Ham Recipes

BOILED HAM DINNER

Steps:

• Place the ham, carrots, potatoes and onions in a Dutch oven. Place the bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, garlic and allspice on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with kitchen string. , Add to pan. Add water just to cover the ham and vegetables; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add cabbage; cover and simmer 15-20 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender; drain. Discard spice bag.

BOILED HAM

Steps:

• The night before the gammon is to be cooked place it in a bowl of cold water and allow to soak.
• This removes some of the salt and tenderises it a little bit.
• Place in a large cooking pot, (make sure you have a lid for it), cover with cold water, add the onions and bouquet garni and bring to the boil.
• Turn the heat right down so the water is barely bubbling and put on the lid.
• Cook for 20 minutes per pound of meat.
• Once the cooking time is up leave the meat in the liquour until cooled.
• This stops it tensing up, and drying out, and makes it lovely and tender.

BOILED VIRGINIA HAM

Steps:

• Three days before cooking, scrub the ham with a stiff brush under cold running water. When the moldy outer covering has been scrubbed off, rinse the ham well and then place in a large pot. Cover with cold water and set aside in a cool place to soak for 3 days, changing the water daily.
• When ready to cook, drain the ham and cover with fresh cold water. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Watch the pot closely, and the minute the water nears a boil, turn down the heat to a bare simmer. Cook the ham for about 5 hours, watching to make sure the water stays at a low simmer. After 4 1/2 hours, check the ham to see if the skin is bubbled and soft. If not, return it to the pot.
• When the ham is done, cool it in a shallow pan. When cool enough to handle, remove the skin with a sharp knife. Also trim a bit of the fat, but leave a thin coating to keep in the moisture. Cut into very thin slices and serve with freshly baked biscuits spread with butter or mustard, such as honey mustard.