Elevate Your Festive Gatherings with Char Siu Honey Glazed Ham
# This Year Create This Char Siu Honey Baked Ham Inspired by Chinese BBQ
If you’ve never glazed ham yourself or have only ever had dry ham, you might be curious why I find ham so delectable. Believe me when I tell you this exquisitely glazed char siu ham achieves the perfect balance of saltiness and sweetness, bursting with rich ham flavor.
## What Is Char Siu Ham?
Traditional honey baked hams are tasty, but if you are going to invest time in glazing your ham, it’s your opportunity to shine and be inventive. If you’ve ever enjoyed Chinese BBQ or even fried rice, you’re already familiar with char siu: savory sweet Chinese BBQ pork. Initially, I planned to prepare a brown sugar bourbon apricot glaze, but Mike mentioned that he thought I would char siu the ham, leading us to this delightful creation!
The honey baked char siu ham offers a perfect harmony of sweetness and umami, thanks to a mix of brown sugar and honey, a dash of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and a hint of five spice. Truly irresistible.
## Instructions for Making Honey Baked Ham:
1. **Select a ham:** Store-bought hams come pre-cooked, making this one of the easiest meat dishes you’ll ever prepare. Choose a bone-in spiral cut ham.
2. **Allow the ham to temper:** Remove the ham from the refrigerator and allow it to reach room temperature for 2-3 hours to ensure even heating without drying it out.
3. **Prepare the glaze:** Mix all glaze ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer.
4. **Prepare your pan:** Pour in 1 cup of water and place a rack in a roasting pan. The water will steam the ham, ensuring it remains juicy.
5. **Bake the ham:** Set the ham cut side down and bake in a low oven, glazing it every 20 minutes until heated through.
6. **Caramelize:** In the final moments, apply more glaze and increase the heat to caramelize. Let it rest before serving!
## Ingredients for Char Siu Honey Baked Ham
If you adore the sweet and smoky notes of Chinese char siu, this char siu inspired ham will delight you. The ingredients you need are: brown sugar, honey, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, five spice, white pepper, garlic, ginger, and a spiral cut bone-in ham. The glaze is so addictive and umami-rich that you’ll want to keep the extra (and there will be extra) to serve alongside the ham!
### Brown Sugar and Honey
We are using brown sugar combined with honey to provide the deep caramel nuances of the brown sugar complemented by the light golden sweetness of honey.
### Hoisin Sauce
Hoisin sauce is a thick, sweet brown Chinese sauce commonly used in marinades and as a dipping sauce. It boasts an impressive flavor profile: sweet, savory, tangy, and full of umami. You can find hoisin sauce in many places now, from Target to your local grocery store.
### Shaoxing Wine
This secret ingredient is essential for achieving that restaurant-quality Chinese food taste. Shaoxing wine is a rice wine with a slightly sweet, nutty, earthy, and complex flavor. While optional for this recipe, it enhances the dish immensely. It’s available online and in Asian grocery stores.
### Five Spice
For a savory char siu, be sure not to omit the five spice. This Chinese spice blend consists of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel. It contains comforting spices that evoke familiar flavors of traditional ham spices like cloves and cinnamon.
### White Pepper
If you don’t have white pepper, don’t worry, but if you do, use it here. Its floral and delicate fragrance provides a subtle peppery kick without being overpowering.
## Commonly Asked Ham Questions
### How to Make Copycat Honey Baked Ham
Did you know that there is a company that offers fully cooked and glazed honey baked hams? To make a copycat version, create a glaze, cover the ham with foil, and bake at 325°F until
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