Cherry Port Glaze Cooks Illustrated Recipes

CHERRY-PORT GLAZE (COOK'S ILLUSTRATED)

Steps:

• Simmer the port in a small saucepan over medium heat until it is reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 5 minutes.
• Add the brown sugar, cherry preserves, and ground pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is thick, syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, 5 to 10 minutes.
• To use as glaze, bake your ham until it reached an internal temperature of 100 degrees.
• Remove ham from oven and increase oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• Cut open the oven bag (if using the CI method) and roll back the sides to expose the ham.
• Brush ham with about one-third of the glaze (a silicone brush is highly recommended).
• Return to the oven until the glaze becomes sticky, about 10 minutes.
• Remove ham from the oven, transfer to a cutting board, and brush te entire ham with another third of the glaze. (If the glaze has thickened, just reheat it briefly).
• Let the ham rest, loosely covered with foil, for 15 minutes.
• Heat the remaining third of the glaze with 4 to 6 tablespoons of the ham juices, until it forms a thick but fluid sauce. Pass the sauce with the ham.
• Note: I think this recipe makes enough for probably six people, at best, but did not really measure it out after adding the juices. Also, I found the ham juices very salty, and would probably use just two or three spoons of ham drippings, and low-sodium broth or water for the rest.

CHERRY & PORT GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• 1. Stir the cornstarch and stock in a small bowl until the mixture is smooth.
• 2. Heat the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in the allspice and cook for 30 seconds.
• 3. Increase the heat to medium-high. Stir the wine, cherries and brown sugar in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook until the mixture is slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
• 4. Stir the cornstarch mixture in the skillet. Cook and stir until the mixture boils and thickens.
• 5. Place the oven bag into a large roasting pan at least 2 inches deep. Place the ham into the oven bag. Pour the cherry glaze over the ham. Close the oven bag with the nylon tie. Cut 6 (1/2-inch) slits in the top of the oven bag. Tuck the ends of the bag under to seal.
• 6. Bake at 250°F. for 1 1/2 hours or until the ham is heated through. Remove the ham from the oven bag to a serving platter. Spoon some of the cherry glaze over the ham. Serve the remaining cherry glaze with the ham.