PINEAPPLE CHIPOTLE GLAZED HAM

The glaze for this ham is “made from Coca Cola, chipotle chiles and honey – which caramelizes during roasting to produce a burnished, smoky-sweet exterior.  Many home cooks in Mexico use cola in this way….If you’re using fresh pineapple slices, make perfect rings by using a 3 inch round cookie cutter to trim the outer edges and a 1 inch round one for the center.”

one 12 to 15 pound whole semiboneless ham

8 fresh or canned pineapple slices

64 whole cloves

2-3/4 cups Coca Cola

2 chipotle chiles in adobo, drained and minced

1/3 cup honey

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1.Put the ham into a 16 quart stockpot and cover with water, Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for 1 hour.

2.  Heat the oven to 350*.  Transfer the ham to a rack in a roasting pan.  Using toothpicks, secure the pineapple slices to the ham and stud with the cloves.  Pour 2 cups Coca Cola over the ham and pour 1 cup water into the roasting pan.  Cover the ham loosely with foil and bake for 1 hour.

3.  Meanwhile, combine the remaining Coca Cola, chipotles and honey in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring the glaze, until syrupy, 12 to 15 minutes.  Uncover the ham and brush with some of the glaze.  Increase the oven temperature to 500*.  Bake the ham, brushing occasionally with the glaze, until browned and glossy, 15 to 20 minutes.  Let cool for about 20 minutes before serving.

edited by James Oseland,  Saveur, The New Comfort Food