Baked Kentucky Country Ham

  • Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

Ham:
1-- country ham, preferable about 18 months old
1/2cup whole cloves
1cup brown sugar
1cup vinegar
1 1/2gallons water
Topping:
1cup brown sugar
1cup cornmeal
1tablespoon ground cloves
1teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Scrub ham with stiff brush to remove any mold.  Immerse, skin side up, in cold water and soak overnight.  Sprinkle 1/4 cup cloves in the bottom of a large roaster.   Add ham, fat side up, and stick remaining cloves in fat.  Add brown sugar, vinegar and water to roaster; cover and bake at 375F for 1 hour.  Lower heat to 275F and bake an additional 20 minutes per pound.  Cool; trim off fat.  If desired, remove bone and tie ham securely with string.  Refrigerate overnight.  Remove string from ham/ cover with Topping and bake at 350F until brown.
  2. For the Topping.  Combine ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Recipe reprinted with permission from the Garden Club of Lexington’s Bluegrass Winners (the Garden Club of Lexington, Kentucky, 1985).