Best 4 Chef Johns Mini Christmas Hams Recipes

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Christmas is approaching, and it's that time of the year to gather with family and friends to celebrate. The dinner table is usually the highlight of this occasion, and a centerpiece ham is often the star of the meal. If you're looking for a unique and delicious ham recipe for your Christmas feast, Chef John's mini Christmas hams are sure to impress.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

CHEF JOHN'S MINI CHRISTMAS HAMS



Chef John's Mini Christmas Hams image

These cute, individually sized hams are firm, moist, and perfectly salty. Serve them over the holidays or for your next dinner party.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pork     Pork Chop Recipes     Baked

Time P2DT50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 21

Brine:
1 ½ cups boiling water
¾ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup kosher salt
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 bay leaf
2 cups chopped celery
½ yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled
2 cups water
1 quart water, or as needed
4 (1 1/2 inches thick) boneless center-cut pork loin chops
Glaze:
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
12 whole cloves

Steps:

  • Combine 1 1/2 cups boiling water, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, cloves, and bay leaf together in a large container; stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. (See Cook's Note to substitute table salt.)
  • Place celery, onion, and garlic in a blender. Add 2 cups cold water and puree until smooth. Pour celery mixture into kosher salt mixture and stir to combine. Add 1 quart of water, or more as needed, to make a total of 2 quarts of brine. Place pork chops in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 2 days.
  • Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl and set glaze aside.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Remove pork chops from brine and pat dry; discard used brine. Cut shallow slits along the sides of each pork chop, about 1/4 inch deep. Cut a crisscross pattern in the top of each pork chop, creating small 1-inch triangles.
  • Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over high heat. Cook chops in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Brush the crisscrossed top of each pork chop with about 1 tablespoon of glaze. Insert 3 whole cloves in the top of each pork chop.
  • Transfer skillet to the preheated oven and roast pork chops until golden brown and slightly pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Remove pork chops to a plate and discard cloves.
  • Using a small butane hand torch, brown the tops of the pork chops by making short passes over the tops with the flame not quite touching.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 790.3 calories, Carbohydrate 61.9 g, Cholesterol 213.1 mg, Fat 21.8 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 82.7 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 13233.9 mg, Sugar 54.9 g

CHEF JOHN'S MINI CHRISTMAS HAMS



Chef John's Mini Christmas Hams image

These cute, individually sized hams are firm, moist, and perfectly salty. Serve them over the holidays or for your next dinner party.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Baked Pork Chops

Time P2DT50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 21

Brine:
1 ½ cups boiling water
¾ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup kosher salt
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 bay leaf
2 cups chopped celery
½ yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled
2 cups water
1 quart water, or as needed
4 (1 1/2 inches thick) boneless center-cut pork loin chops
Glaze:
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
12 whole cloves

Steps:

  • Combine 1 1/2 cups boiling water, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, cloves, and bay leaf together in a large container; stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. (See Cook's Note to substitute table salt.)
  • Place celery, onion, and garlic in a blender. Add 2 cups cold water and puree until smooth. Pour celery mixture into kosher salt mixture and stir to combine. Add 1 quart of water, or more as needed, to make a total of 2 quarts of brine. Place pork chops in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 2 days.
  • Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl and set glaze aside.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Remove pork chops from brine and pat dry; discard used brine. Cut shallow slits along the sides of each pork chop, about 1/4 inch deep. Cut a crisscross pattern in the top of each pork chop, creating small 1-inch triangles.
  • Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over high heat. Cook chops in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Brush the crisscrossed top of each pork chop with about 1 tablespoon of glaze. Insert 3 whole cloves in the top of each pork chop.
  • Transfer skillet to the preheated oven and roast pork chops until golden brown and slightly pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Remove pork chops to a plate and discard cloves.
  • Using a small butane hand torch, brown the tops of the pork chops by making short passes over the tops with the flame not quite touching.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 790.3 calories, Carbohydrate 61.9 g, Cholesterol 213.1 mg, Fat 21.8 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 82.7 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 13233.9 mg, Sugar 54.9 g

CHEF JOHN'S MINI CHRISTMAS HAMS



Chef John's Mini Christmas Hams image

These cute, individually sized hams are firm, moist, and perfectly salty. Serve them over the holidays or for your next dinner party.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Baked Pork Chops

Time P2DT50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 21

Brine:
1 ½ cups boiling water
¾ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup kosher salt
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 bay leaf
2 cups chopped celery
½ yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled
2 cups water
1 quart water, or as needed
4 (1 1/2 inches thick) boneless center-cut pork loin chops
Glaze:
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
12 whole cloves

Steps:

  • Combine 1 1/2 cups boiling water, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, cloves, and bay leaf together in a large container; stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. (See Cook's Note to substitute table salt.)
  • Place celery, onion, and garlic in a blender. Add 2 cups cold water and puree until smooth. Pour celery mixture into kosher salt mixture and stir to combine. Add 1 quart of water, or more as needed, to make a total of 2 quarts of brine. Place pork chops in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 2 days.
  • Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl and set glaze aside.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Remove pork chops from brine and pat dry; discard used brine. Cut shallow slits along the sides of each pork chop, about 1/4 inch deep. Cut a crisscross pattern in the top of each pork chop, creating small 1-inch triangles.
  • Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over high heat. Cook chops in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Brush the crisscrossed top of each pork chop with about 1 tablespoon of glaze. Insert 3 whole cloves in the top of each pork chop.
  • Transfer skillet to the preheated oven and roast pork chops until golden brown and slightly pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Remove pork chops to a plate and discard cloves.
  • Using a small butane hand torch, brown the tops of the pork chops by making short passes over the tops with the flame not quite touching.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 790.3 calories, Carbohydrate 61.9 g, Cholesterol 213.1 mg, Fat 21.8 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 82.7 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 13233.9 mg, Sugar 54.9 g

CHEF JOHN'S MINI CHRISTMAS HAMS



Chef John's Mini Christmas Hams image

These cute, individually sized hams are firm, moist, and perfectly salty. Serve them over the holidays or for your next dinner party.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Baked Pork Chops

Time P2DT50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 21

Brine:
1 ½ cups boiling water
¾ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup kosher salt
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 bay leaf
2 cups chopped celery
½ yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled
2 cups water
1 quart water, or as needed
4 (1 1/2 inches thick) boneless center-cut pork loin chops
Glaze:
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
12 whole cloves

Steps:

  • Combine 1 1/2 cups boiling water, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, cloves, and bay leaf together in a large container; stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. (See Cook's Note to substitute table salt.)
  • Place celery, onion, and garlic in a blender. Add 2 cups cold water and puree until smooth. Pour celery mixture into kosher salt mixture and stir to combine. Add 1 quart of water, or more as needed, to make a total of 2 quarts of brine. Place pork chops in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 2 days.
  • Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl and set glaze aside.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Remove pork chops from brine and pat dry; discard used brine. Cut shallow slits along the sides of each pork chop, about 1/4 inch deep. Cut a crisscross pattern in the top of each pork chop, creating small 1-inch triangles.
  • Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over high heat. Cook chops in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Brush the crisscrossed top of each pork chop with about 1 tablespoon of glaze. Insert 3 whole cloves in the top of each pork chop.
  • Transfer skillet to the preheated oven and roast pork chops until golden brown and slightly pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Remove pork chops to a plate and discard cloves.
  • Using a small butane hand torch, brown the tops of the pork chops by making short passes over the tops with the flame not quite touching.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 790.3 calories, Carbohydrate 61.9 g, Cholesterol 213.1 mg, Fat 21.8 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 82.7 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 13233.9 mg, Sugar 54.9 g

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality ham: Opt for a fully cooked ham that is labeled "bone-in" or "semi-boneless."
  • Brown sugar glaze: To make the perfect glaze, combine brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, orange juice, and a dash of cloves.
  • Pineapple rings: Use fresh or canned pineapple rings for a sweet and tangy addition.
  • Cherries: Maraschino cherries add a festive touch and a pop of color.
  • Baking: Bake the ham at 325°F for 10-12 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
  • Basting: Baste the ham with the glaze every 20-30 minutes while baking to keep it moist and flavorful.
  • Serving: Let the ham rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with fresh herbs or a sprinkle of chopped nuts.

Conclusion:

Chef John's mini Christmas hams are a delicious and impressive holiday dish that is sure to wow your guests. With its sweet and tangy glaze, juicy pineapple rings, and festive cherries, this recipe is a perfect combination of flavors and textures. Whether you're hosting a large gathering or an intimate dinner, these mini hams are a guaranteed hit. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to create a culinary masterpiece that will leave your taste buds merry and bright!

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