This fresh pineapple ham puts a modern twist on your grandmother's go-to Christmas meal. Enjoy the savory-sweet flavors as juicy pineapple complements the smokiness of the ham, smothered with a balsamic honey glaze that caramelizes to perfection. It's a winning centerpiece for any occasion: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter - or whenever you're just craving a delicious ham dinner!
Ingredients
3 ½lbsmoked ham, see notes!
½mediumpineapple
⅓cuphoney
2tablespoonsbalsamic vinegar
1tablespoondijon mustard
A pinch of cayenne
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking dish large enough to fit the ham with parchment paper. (To make cleanup easier.)
Slice your ham into ½-inch thick slices, cutting halfway through.
3 ½ lb smoked ham
Cut the bottom and top of your pineapple then cut it in half lengthwise. Cut the skin off one half then cut it in half lengthwise again. Cut the tough core out of the two quarters then lay them flat and slice them into thin (⅛ inch thick) strips. Tuck these strips into the cuts you made in the ham, 2 pineapple slices per cut.
½ medium pineapple
In a small bowl, mix the honey, balsamic vinegar, dijon, and cayenne. Brush a small amount over the ham.
⅓ cup honey, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, A pinch of cayenne
Bake the ham 1 ½ hours then remove it from the oven. Pour the remaining glaze over the top, making sure it seeps into the pineapple filled cuts. Return the ham to the oven for another half hour. Let the ham rest on your counter for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
This recipe is made with fully-cooked smoked ham. It's important that you use only smoked ham. If you use uncooked ham, the enzymes in the pineapple will break down the meat and make it mushy. Smoked ham is already cooked so this doesn't happen. If you want to use uncooked ham, we recommend baking the pineapple slices on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. This will neutralize the enzymes in the pineapple so they won't affect the meat.