Festive ham recipes you have to try
Fabulous festive hams
Whether your family's tradition is to serve it up on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Eve, a tender, succulent ham makes the ultimate seasonal show-stopper. Even better, it's just as delicious cold as it is hot from the oven. To help you on your way to your tastiest festive season ever, we've rounded up our favourite ways to cook the meaty centrepiece, plus plenty of ideas for what to do with the leftovers.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover our best-ever festive ham recipes.
Orange-glazed ham with mango and orange salsa
This mouth-watering joint of smoked ham is gently baked in the oven with orange juice until delectably tender – and once cooked and skinned, it's coated with a sticky orange glaze, complete with whole slices of orange. The ham will keep for up to three days in the fridge, so you'll have plenty of time to get stuck into any leftovers. Got some cold cuts of turkey to use up too? The fruity, lightly spiced salsa will pair with that perfectly, too.
Get the recipe for orange-glazed ham with mango and orange chutney here
Spice-glazed Christmas ham
This irresistible ham is simmered in cider and apple juice to create a lovely stock you can freeze for soup – and you can use smoked or unsmoked ham for the recipe, depending on your preference. As it cooks, the glaze becomes almost toffee-like, with dark muscovado sugar, spices and mustard all coming together to form a sumptuously sweet and spicy crust.
Blueberry and mustard–glazed ham
If you want to try something a little different this year, why not give this fruity recipe a go? Here, the sweet tartness of the berries contrasts perfectly with the saltiness of the ham – and the whole thing comes with a side of braised lentils and fresh blueberries, infused with a kick of chilli and a warming hit of cardamom. The lentils can be served hot or at room temperature; it's up to you!
Indian-style spiced glazed ham
In this gorgeous Indian-inspired recipe, a ham joint is cooked in garlic and ginger, then slathered in a wonderfully sticky glaze, thick with dark sugar, spices and mustard. When it comes out of the oven, give it a good scattering of sliced almonds for an eye-catching finishing touch, then slice it up for your hungry guests – each tasty morsel will contain a flavour-packed punch of sweetness and spices. Happily, this delicious ham will keep in the fridge for up to three days.
Mustard and ale–baked ham
If you're a fan of hoppy flavours, here's an idea for you: try simmering your ham in ale this Christmas. Once it's cooked, you'll need to coat it with a rich, sticky glaze of treacle, mustard and reduced stock; the trick here is to build up layers of glaze to create a delicious coating, so brush your ham with the mixture every five minutes. You can choose boneless or bone-in ham here, though opting for boneless will make the carving a little bit easier.
Honey-glazed ham
The classic ham is coated with a sweet glaze of honey, sugar, vinegar and Madeira – for crowd-pleasing results, every time. If you don't have Madeira to hand, you could swap it for a medium sherry, a sweet Marsala, or even rum, depending on what you have in the cupboard. Not planning on using up the leftovers any time soon? Slice the ham up and stack it between sheets of baking paper; it'll freeze for up to two months.
Ham and rice casserole
And now for the leftovers! Here's a really easy one-pot dish to make with cold cuts of ham, rice, vegetables and a secret ingredient: a can of condensed mushroom soup. It takes just 10 minutes to put together and under an hour to cook. When it's done, the cheesy topping will be irresistibly oozy and bubbly. You can mix and match the vegetables depending on what you have to hand (and you could even add some leftover turkey, too).
Italian ham and cheese pie
Filled with a heavenly combination of salty ham and gooey cheese, this hearty pie always goes down a treat. Here, two sheets of shop-bought puff pastry encase slices of ham, tomato passata and plenty of mature Cheddar or Gruyère. You can serve it hot from the oven or at room temperature – just add a green salad on the side.
Ham and egg linguine
Need a tasty meal in next to no time? Rustle up this easy dish – it's ready in just 15 minutes. Here, strips of ham are mixed with a honey and mustard dressing and a portion of linguine (use tagliatelle or spaghetti if you prefer), then topped with a delicate poached egg. Top tip: it's even tastier coated in a grating of Parmesan or mature Cheddar.
Pea and ham soup
Traditionally, winter pea and ham soups are made with dried split peas – but this speedy version uses frozen peas instead. If you have any stock leftover from boiling your Christmas ham, you can use it in the recipe; if not, chicken stock works just as well. When it's ready, add some extra pieces of ham, then garnish with a swirl of cream. It'll keep in the fridge for two days and freezes well, too.
Potato, ham and apple rosti
These crispy fried potato cakes are incredibly comforting, whether you serve them as a side or main dish – and they're the perfect speedy use-up for leftover ham. To make them, mix grated potato with cheese, ham, cream and a dash of mustard; if you like, you can whiz up the potatoes in a food processor to save time. Planning on serving them at a dinner party or gathering? Cut corners by cooking them early in the day, then reheating them later.
Eggs Benedict
In the mood for a classic brunch? Look no further than our eggs Benedict recipe. Here, poached eggs and ham are nestled in a toasted muffin, then coated in a homemade Hollandaise sauce, with some tomatoes and slices of ripe avocado added in for good measure. The trick with the sauce is to add the butter slowly to the egg yolks – and if the butter is very cold, there's less chance of the sauce splitting.
Ham and turkey casserole
The ultimate use for Christmas leftovers! Here, cold cuts of ham and turkey are combined with spinach and peas (frozen versions are perfect) in a herby, creamy sauce. The topping is made from stuffing ingredients, including cranberries and chestnuts, for a lovely – and extremely festive – crunch. Don't have any turkey left? It's just as tasty made with ham alone.
Ham croquetas
These deep-fried croquettes are traditionally made with Serrano ham in Spain, where they're often served as a tapa – but we think a creamy cooked ham filling works just as well. They take a bit of time to make (the thick béchamel filling needs to cool down completely before you fry them), but they're totally worth it.
Ham and chicken chow mein
Made with shredded chicken, ham and oodles of noodles, this classic Chinese-inspired dish is the perfect comfort food to snuggle up with when it's cold outside. First, make a quick soy and sesame marinade for the chicken (you could use leftover turkey if you prefer), then stir-fry everything up with chilli, garlic and soy sauce. Great for a speedy supper, it's a 30-minute marvel with very little prep time needed.
Ham and turkey Christmas pie
Here's a fabulously festive take on a traditional British pork pie, filled with leftover ham, turkey, cranberries and chestnuts. It's all held together with a hot water crust pastry – and the good news is, this type of pastry is both simple to make and easy to mould. Aside from a 20cm (8in) cake tin, there's no special equipment required, either. It's perfect served cold, with pickles and coleslaw on the side.
Ham, cheese and apple pie
Pie perfection, this wholesome dish combines layers of ham, mature Cheddar and sharp cooking apples in a creamy béchamel sauce – and the whole thing comes encased in shop-bought puff pastry. To save time, you can prepare your pie the day before baking; simply leave it in the fridge until you're ready to get started. Glaze it with beaten egg yolk, and it'll turn a beautiful golden colour.
Spanish omelette with ham and roasted peppers
This classic Spanish omelette or tortilla is traditionally made with a comforting mix of potatoes, onions, eggs and smoked paprika. Our recipe gives the dish a few tasty extras: ham and roasted peppers (which you can find in jars at most supermarkets). You can serve your omelette hot or cold, or cut it into cubes to enjoy as a snack with drinks.
Get the recipe for Spanish omelette with ham and roasted peppers here
Boxing Day pie
A fantastic dish to whip up on Boxing Day, this one's a free-for-all; you can use any leftover meats you have in the fridge, including ham. It's an easy recipe – just make a rich, thick gravy to smother all the ingredients, top with roast potatoes, then bake in the oven until it's brown and bubbling. No potatoes left? Cover your pie with some shop-bought puff or shortcrust pastry instead.
Cheese, ham and chive muffins
Miraculously quick to make and bake, warm, savoury muffins are the perfect breakfast or tasty snack. As well as that all-important ham, these ones contain chives – but you could use chopped spring onions if you prefer, or add thyme, sage or basil. For the best flavour, be sure to use a strong, mature Cheddar or other tasty hard cheese.
Ham and blue cheese tartlets
These creamy little tartlets are simply divine served warm as canapés – and the good news is, you can make and bake them the day before your dinner party, then reheat them in a hot oven in time for your guests to arrive. Use shop-bought shortcrust pastry for ease and speed, and mix ham and blue cheese with rich mascarpone and beaten eggs to make the filling. Make more than you think you'll need; these nibbles are so tasty, they're sure to disappear quickly!
Cheese and ham pie
This is one for the cheese lovers out there. Here, a puff pastry base is layered up with slices of ham, béchamel sauce and grated Gruyère (or a similar strong, hard cheese), then crowned with more puff pastry. This comforting pie can be eaten cold, but it's especially good served hot from the oven, while the cheese is still oozy and melting. Want to get ahead? Assemble it in advance, stash it in the fridge, then bake when needed.
Get the recipe for cheese and ham pie here
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