Ham Glazes - Are they always sweet?

[Threerun]

Once I used an onion / jalapeno glaze on a small ham. I had hopes that it would be a sweet/savory combination but in reality it tasted pretty disgusting.

I forget where we got it from- I think it was a gift from someone. Stonewall Kitchens was the product IIRC..

[maggie2101]

I like Aretha Franklin's Queen of Soul Ham. The glaze is ginger ale, brown sugar, and yellow mustard.

[Dirt Grinder]

Brown sugar, coarse-grain mustard, some apple juice, and a bit of ground clove (too much clove ruins any recipe).

[gentlearts]

You can't go wrong with half yellow mustard an brown sugar.

[lubby]

If I make a spiral ham I don't put glaze on it because no one in our family likes it and we have 2 diabetics.

[Cliffie]

If it's not made mostly with sugar, they normally wouldn't call it a glaze. Maybe you need to go old-school and simply stud the ham with whole cloves. You can do a rub using allspice or something else that isn't overly sweet, of course.

[IslandCityGirl]

Yeah, that syrupy stuff in the packets is disgusting. Your basic, tried and true ham glaze: whole grain mustard; brown sugar and/or honey; pineapple, orange or apple juice.

I like mine a little more savory/less cloying too...

Go lighter on the brown sugar/honey, a bit heavier on the mustard AND:

- Add a touch of apple cider vinegar (balances sweetness as well as the richness of the ham)
- A few dashes of Angostura bitters (offers fantastic depth/complexity and a tiny bit of bitter - in a good way -, including some hints of clove and allspice)
- Add some ham jus. ALWAYS save that jus from your baked ham! Keep it in the freezer for sauces, soups, and to make a more savory glaze next time you bake a ham!!! The jus will have enough sweetness in it, all on its own, to sub-in for the fruit juice altogether in your glaze if you choose, and it has the added bonus of a boat-load of savory/umami flavor to balance that sweet and intensify the flavor of your ham. If you don't already have jus on-hand, start scooping it out of the pan as your ham bakes. Add it to your glaze and mop it on as your ham continues to bake. You won't be disappointed.

[reneeh63]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

You can't go wrong with half yellow mustard an brown sugar.

Dijon adds even more of a kick!

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by stan4

This Barbecued Whiskey-Glazed Ham Recipe is to Die For

I never thought about it, but aren't glazes supposed to be sweet?

yes, but there is sweet and OMG sweet. We use a combo glaze with hot and spicy jam; then add some brandy or whisky plus soy sauce, and a few spices.