Jamie's Christmas Jerk Ham

Get ready to transform your holiday table with Jamie's Christmas Jerk Ham—a showstopping fusion of tropical spices and traditional holiday indulgence. This recipe takes a juicy, bone-in smoked ham and elevates it with a vibrant jerk marinade made from fresh ginger, garlic, Scotch bonnet pepper, and zesty lime juice. Slow-roasted to perfection, it’s basted in a fragrant blend of orange juice, soy sauce, and honey, and finished with a caramelized crust of dark brown sugar for a mouthwatering balance of smoky, sweet, and spicy flavors. Ideal for Christmas gatherings, this Caribbean-inspired centerpiece promises to be the star of your festive feast, delighting guests with its bold, aromatic profile. Serve with the spiced pan juices for a memorable holiday meal that's as flavorful as it is unforgettable.

Nutriscore Rating: 55/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:210 mins

Total Time:240 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 4 kg Bone-in smoked ham
• 4 tbsp Jerk seasoning paste
• 200 g Dark brown sugar
• 50 g Fresh ginger
• 4 pieces Garlic cloves
• 1 tsp Allspice berries
• 1 piece Cinnamon stick
• 6 pieces Cloves
• 1 piece Scotch bonnet pepper
• 250 ml Orange juice
• 2 tbsp Lime juice
• 2 tbsp Soy sauce
• 3 tbsp Honey
• 4 sprigs Fresh thyme
• 1 piece Bay leaf

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) or gas mark 4.

Step 2

Using a sharp knife, carefully score the skin of the ham in a diamond pattern. If necessary, remove some of the tough outer skin to expose the fat layer beneath.

Step 3

In a food processor, blend jerk seasoning paste with fresh ginger, garlic cloves, allspice berries, scotch bonnet pepper, and lime juice until it forms a smooth marinade.

Step 4

Rub the marinade generously all over the scored ham, ensuring it gets into the crevices of the diamond pattern. Let the ham marinate for at least 20 minutes or up to overnight for maximum flavor.

Step 5

In a large roasting tray, mix orange juice, soy sauce, honey, fresh thyme, cinnamon stick, cloves, and the bay leaf. Place the marinated ham on a rack set in the middle of the tray.

Step 6

Cover the ham loosely with foil and roast in the preheated oven for 2 hours, basting every 30 minutes with the juices collected in the tray.

Step 7

After 2 hours, remove the foil and evenly sprinkle the brown sugar over the top of the ham. Increase the oven temperature to 200°C (400°F) and continue roasting for another 30 minutes, or until the ham is caramelized and golden on top.

Step 8

Carefully remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.

Step 9

Serve warm with a drizzle of the spiced pan juices for a festive and flavorful centerpiece.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(4765.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	7059.6

Total Fat 223.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 80.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 2200mg	0%
Sodium 50058.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 375.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 10.5g	0%
Total Sugars 320.8g
Protein 849.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 795.0mg	0%
Iron 37.6mg	0%
Potassium 12284.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 29.1%

Protein: 49.2%

Carbs: 21.7%