WHY IS HAM WITH COLA lIME SAUCE THE MOST POPULAR HAM RECIPE PREPARED BY MY CLIENTS?
1. It only requires 5 ingredients TOTAL!
2. The simple sauce takes 10 minutes to prepare
3. The ham can be purchased already spiral cut and can be cut into smaller serving size pieces 2 days prior to your event
4. The ham and sauce are combined onsite and heated in the chafing dish.
5. IT TASTES GREAT!
PREPARING HAM FOR A CROWD DOESN’T GET ANY EASIER THAN THIS.
Also, your guests will love it. I actually had a marriage proposal at one reception…men love the sauce because it is not too sweet, has just a hint of heat and it compliments the salty flavor of the ham.
The original recipe for this dish called for the ham to be placed in a brine for several hours, covered with a rub prior to baking and then finally, served in this sauce. There was so much confusion between all the flavors that it was overwhelming. I prepared it once and then decided to try it with just the sauce…… Perfection.
Please note: Use only regular Coca Cola with this recipe. No Coke Light, No Coke Zero.
The dish starts with ham. Using a spiral sliced ham is suggested to help reduce the prep time. But, if you can’t find a spiral sliced ham, or would prefer to use a bone in or boneless ham, that will work too.
I originally found this recipe in the Reno Gazette Journal. Originally it was a very complex recipe which called for soaking the ham in a brine, baking with a complex rub and then finally serving with the sauce. To me, the various seasonings included in the 3 different steps over whelmed the flavor of the ham. And since the sauce is so yummy, I omitted the first two steps, and everyone raves about it as soon as they taste it, . The preparation is simple: open a can of Coke, add brown sugar, lime juice and a few slices of jalapeño peppers – simmer for a short period of time, cool and then refrigerate until the day of the reception. See notes regarding modifying the heat by removing the chili pieces. I am going to make the statement that men love this dish…based on the fact that I have actually had marriage proposals at receptions where this was served.
Ham with Cola Lime Sauce
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
Meat
- 1 ea Spiral Sliced Ham Approximately 9 1/2 lbs
Sauce
- 1 C Coca Cola Use only regular Coca Cola
- 2 C Brown Sugar (light or dark) Packed
- 1/4 C Lime Juice 2 limes
- 2 ea Jalapeno chilies cleaned + seeded, sliced crosswise into ¼ inch slices
Instructions
Sauce
- Bring Coke, lime juice, brown sugar and jalapenos to boil in a small saucepan over high heat. I remove the pepper slices after about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until syrupy. the sauce can be made ahead of time and refrigerated.
Ham
- Ham can be sliced off the bone beforehand and placed in slide lock baggies. Following the natural sectioning of the meat, make 3 or 4 cuts the length of the ham; cutting completely down to the bone. Gently remove sections and separate the spiral slices.
On-Site Preparation
- Place the chafing holder on the buffet table and put HOT water in "well", place chafing dish cover on top and then ignite the Sterno or heat source so that the water continues to heat. In the kitchen, place 2 layers ham slices in the chafing pan, or disposable foil pan(s). Spoon sauce over the ham so that the bottom of the pan is covered. Ham should not be immersed in the sauce but needs enough to remain moist. Place the pan with the ham into the chafing dish and replace the cover. Ham will be heated and ready to serve in approximately 30 to 45 minutes.
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