Browse All Recipes

Glazed ham with pickled watermelon rind

Add pineapple juice for a sticky-sweet glaze that just works.

By Alice Storey
  • 25 mins preparation
  • 2 hrs cooking plus cooling, pickling
  • Serves 20
  • Print
    Print
Glazed ham with pickled watermelon rind

Ingredients

  • 500 ml fresh pineapple juice (2 cups)
  • 300 gm light palm sugar, finely chopped
  • 30 gm ginger, thinly sliced (6cm piece)
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 small red chilli, thinly sliced
  • Juice of 2 limes and finely grated rind of 1
  • 1 leg of ham, bone in (about 7kg), skin removed, fat scored
  • To serve: white rolls
Pickled watermelon rind
  • 400 ml coconut vinegar (see note)
  • 330 gm caster sugar (1½ cups)
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 200 gm watermelon rind, thinly sliced on a mandolin
  • 3 golden shallots, thinly sliced on a mandolin
  • 1 small red chilli, thinly sliced

Method

Main
  • 1
    For pickled watermelon rind, bring vinegar, sugar, coriander seeds, 100ml water and a pinch of salt to the simmer in a saucepan over medium heat, stir to dissolve sugar (5-7 minutes) and set aside to cool (30 minutes). Add watermelon rind, shallot and chilli and refrigerate to pickle (overnight-48 hours).
  • 2
    Preheat oven to 180C. Combine pineapple juice, sugar, ginger, cloves, star anise, chilli and lime rind in a small saucepan over medium heat, stir to dissolve sugar and simmer until reduced by half (15-20 minutes). Remove from heat, add half the lime juice and set aside.
  • 3
    Place ham in a large roasting pan, brush with pineapple glaze and roast, basting occasionally, until ham is caramelised and warmed through (1¼-1½ hours). Season to taste with remaining lime juice, slice and serve with pickled watermelon rind on white rolls.

Notes

Note Leftovers of the glazed ham and pickled watermelon rind will keep refrigerated for five to seven days, making it an easy lunch for lazy summer days. It's best to remove the ham skin when the ham is cold. You'll need to begin this recipe at least a day ahead. Coconut vinegar is available from Asian grocers. Drink suggestion by Max Allen