Country Ham Relish Recipes

COUNTRY HAM

Steps:

• Unwrap ham and scrub off any surface mold (if you hung in a sack for 6 months you'd have mold too). Carefully remove hock with hand saw. (If this idea makes you eye your first aid kit, ask your butcher to do it. But make sure you keep the hock, it's the best friend collard greens ever had.)
• Place ham in cooler and cover with clean water. (As long as it's not too dirty you can use what southerners call the "hose pipe"). Stash the cooler in the bushes. If it's summer, throw in some ice. If it's freezing out, keep the cooler inside. Change the water twice a day for two days turning the ham each time.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place ham in a large disposable turkey-roasting pan and add enough Dr. Pepper to come about halfway up the side of the ham. Add pickle juice if you've got it and tent completely with heavy-duty foil. Cook for 1/2 hour then reduce heat to 325 degrees F, and cook another 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn the ham over, insert an oven safe thermometer (probe-style is best) and cook another 1 1/2 hours, or until the deepest part of the ham hits 140 degrees F (approximately 15 to 20 minutes per pound total).
• Let rest 1/2 hour then slice paper-thin. Serve with biscuits or soft yeast rolls.
• Cooks note: Even after soaking, country ham is quite salty, so thin slicing is mandatory. If you're a bacon fan, however, cut a thicker (1/4-inch) slice and fry it up for breakfast.

HAM SPREAD

Steps:

• Cut up ham to put into food processor, grind on pulse until very coarse. Add the onion and dill pickle relish close to the end of this stage. Put into mixing bowl and add mustard and creamy salad dressing; mix well.

BOURBON-MARINATED PORK ROAST WITH COUNTRY HAM JUS

Steps:

• To marinate the pork roast, combine maple syrup, molasses, bourbon, chili sauce, and chili paste in a shallow dish and mix well. Brush the roast all over with the marinade and refrigerate it 8 hours or longer.
• Preheat 1 side of a grill to high heat.
• To cook, sear the roast all over on a hot grill. Once it browns, move the meat to a cooler spot. Lower the heat and continue to cook, covered, at a lower temperature, until it is done, about 11/2 to 2 hours, depending on its size -- the meat should register 150 to 155 degrees F in its thickest part.
• To serve, reheat the Country Ham Jus and divide it among serving plates. Place pork on plates and add a generous spoonful of Pawpaw Relish.
• For the country ham jus, combine the ham bones, 4 cups water, onion, celery, carrot, thyme, bay leaf, and pepper in a large stockpot. Simmer, uncovered, for 3 hours, or until liquid is reduced to 1 cup. Strain out the solids. Combine with demi-glace in pot and cook until reduced to 1 1/2 cups. Add salt, to taste. Refrigerate.
• Mix all the ingredients together.

IBERIAN HAM WITH TOMATO RELISH

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar and sherry in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the diced vegetables and salt and pepper, bring back to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, until thick, about 20 minutes. Adjust seasonings and let relish cool. To serve, coat a large platter or individual plates with relish. Top with the Iberian ham slices. Leftover relish will keep in the refrigerator for a few weeks.

HONEY-GLAZED HAM WITH CRANBERRY RELISH

Steps:

• 1. Remove and discard glaze packet from ham or reserve for another use. Begin by preparing ham according to package directions.
• 2. Make Honey Glaze: While baking, mix honey, mustard and lemon juice in small bowl until blended. Set aside until the last 30 minutes of baking time.
• 3. Make Cranberry Relish: Combine apples and juice in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cranberries; simmer an additional 5 minutes, or until fruit is tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in marmalade and pecans. Set aside until ready to eat. Or, if made in advance, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• 4. Uncover ham and brush with the Honey Glaze for the last 30 minutes of the baking time.
• 5. Let stand 10 minutes. Carve and serve with Cranberry Relish.

HONEY-ROASTED HAM OR TURKEY WITH DRIED CHERRY RELISH

Steps:

• Stir crème de cassis, 1/2 cup water and sugar in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil. Add dried cherries. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until cherries are plump, about 5 minutes. Mix in pecans and orange peel. Season relish lightly with salt. Transfer to bowl. Cool. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Place ham or turkey on platter. Place bowl with cherry relish alongside. Serve with dinner rolls, if desired.