My Page
My Cookbooks
  • Main Cookbook
    Premium Members can have more than one cookbook in this list. They can keep private cookbooks just for organizing their recipes, or share them publicly with friends or the world. Learn more
My Account

Menus using this recipe:

Easter/ Family Birthdays 2008

carolinajewel

Alton Brown's City Ham

Recipe #23438 | 5½ hours | 30 min prep | SERVES 10 -15 (Change Servings)

RECIPE BY: Sharlene~W

From Food TV's "Good Eats". Cook's note: A city ham is basically any brined ham that is packed in a plastic bag, held in a refrigerated case and marked "ready to cook", "partially cooked" or "ready to serve". Better city hams are also labeled "ham in natural juices". Posted in response to a request.

Posted on: Mar 28, 2002

Ingredients

  • 7-8 lbs city-style brined ham, hock end
  • 1/4 cup brown mustard
  • cups dark brown sugar
  • ounce bourbon (poured into a spritz bottle)
  • cups crushed gingersnap cookie
  • Directions

    1. 1
      Heat oven to 250 degrees F.
    2. 2
      Remove ham from bag, rinse and drain thoroughly.
    3. 3
      Place ham, cut side down, in a roasting pan.
    4. 4
      Using a small paring knife or clean utility knife set to the smallest blade setting, score the ham from bottom to top, spiraling clockwise as you cut.
    5. 5
      (If you are using a paring knife, be careful to only cut through the skin and first few layers of fat).
    6. 6
      Rotate the ham after each cut so that the scores are no more than 2-inches across.
    7. 7
      Once you have made it all the way around, move the knife to the other hand and repeat, spiraling counter clockwise.
    8. 8
      The aim is to create a diamond pattern all over the ham.
    9. 9
      (Don't worry too much about precision here.) Tent the ham with heave duty foil, insert a thermometer, and cook for 3 to 4 hours or until the internal temperature at the deepest part of the meat registers 130 degrees F.
    10. 10
      Remove and use tongs to pull away the diamonds of skin and any sheets of fat that come off with them.
    11. 11
      Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
    12. 12
      Dab dry with paper towels, then brush on a liberal coat of mustard, using either a basting brush or a clean point brush (clean--as in never-touched paint).
    13. 13
      Sprinkle on brown sugar, packing loosely as you go until the ham is coated.
    14. 14
      Spritz this layer lightly with bourbon, then loosely pack on as much of the crushed cookies as you can. NOTE: A small empty spray bottle from the drug store is perfect.
    15. 15
      Insert the thermometer (don't use the old hole) and return to the oven (uncovered).
    16. 16
      Cook until interior temperature reaches 140 degrees F, approximately 1 hour.
    17. 17
      Let the roast rest for 1/2 hour before carving.

    Questions about this recipe?

    Spot an error in this recipe?

    Featured Reviews for This Recipe

    reviewer icon

    From: Jackie7757

    On Jan 3, 2008

    Excellent. The only way to do a ham for Christmas.

    1 person found this review helpful

  • Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
  • From: JackieP7757

    On Jan 3, 2008

    I will never make my ham any other way then this way. It was FANTASTIC. Brought back my childhood memories. A keeper.

    1 person found this review helpful

  • Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
  • reviewer icon

    From: Steve_G

    On Dec 25, 2005

    As usual Alton Brown's creations are based on great science. This ham cooks to perfection. I make it with pineapple juice in lieu of the Burbon and, normally, skip the cookies. Thanks for taking the time to post this.

    6 people found this review helpful

  • Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
  • From: Carrie27

    On Apr 6, 2005

    I've made this ham ever since it first appeared on food network. I've been ordered to make it every Christmas and Easter. It is as amazing as the reviews say. A sugestion because I've ruined a few roasting pans..line your roaster with plenty of foil before placing your ham in to assemble and cook. The "candy" one of reviewers mentions sticks to your pan and is litterally impossible to remove. This ham is easy to make and the taste will blow you away. I'll never make any other kind of ham again.

    4 people found this review helpful

  • Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
  • Read all 16 reviews
    Nutrition Facts

    Serving Size 1 (364g)

    Recipe makes 10 servings

    The following items or measurements are not included below:

    brown mustard

    2 cups gingersnap cookies

    Calories 1009
    Calories from Fat 590 (58%)
    Amount Per Serving %DV
    Total Fat 65.7g 101%
    Saturated Fat 22.8g 114%
    Monounsaturated Fat 30.4g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 7.8g
    Trans Fat 0.0g
    Cholesterol 222mg 74%
    Sodium 3970mg 165%
    Potassium 1139mg 32%
    Total Carbohydrate 48.7g 16%
    Dietary Fiber 0.0g 0%
    Sugars 42.3g
    Protein 51.7g 103%
    Vitamin A 0mcg 0%
    Vitamin B6 0.8mg 42%
    Vitamin B12 3.0mcg 50%
    Vitamin C 0mg 0%
    Vitamin E 0mcg 0%
    Calcium 69mg 6%
    Iron 3mg 18%

    detailed view...

    how is this calculated?

    Sister Sites: Food Network | HGTV | HGTVPro | DIY | Fine Living | Great American Country | FrontDoor.com Real Estate | Ecologue

    Comparison Shop for Kitchen Appliances & Utensils at Shopzilla & BizRate

    UpMyStreet and uSwitch.com provide UK comparison services for Energy, Home Phone, Broadband, Credit Cards, Loans, Mobile Phones and Car Insurance

    © 2007 Scripps Networks, Inc. All rights reserved