Argentine Style Fresh Ham Recipes

DANISH HAM - VIKING STYLE

Steps:

• To prepare the ham: Place the meat on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, score the fat in a cross-hatch pattern, cutting all the way through to the meat.
• Put the ham in a large roasting pan. Spread the honey over the ham. Combine the thyme, bay leaves, and juniper in a small bowl. Season the mixture with salt, and then rub it into the ham. Pour the beer over the ham. Cover the pan and marinate the ham in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 320 degrees F.
• To prepare the puree: After the ham has marinated, peel and dice all of the fruit and vegetables. Place the vegetables in the roasting pan around the ham.
• To cook the ham: Roast the ham and vegetables, basting the meat frequently with the marinade and adding more beer and honey if the pan seems dry. Cook the vegetables until they are very tender, about 1 hour. Take the vegetables from the roasting pan and put them in a large saucepan. Set the vegetables aside until the ham is cooked. Return the meat to the oven and continue roasting and basting until the meat is tender, about 3 more hours. Take the ham out of the oven, cover it and set it aside to rest for 1 hour.
• To finish the puree: Gently warm the vegetables over medium heat. Mash them with the butter, and then season with salt and pepper. Keep the puree warm until ready to serve.
• Glaze the ham if desired (see Cook's Note below), and then slice it. Serve the ham with the puree, Horseradish Cream and Apple and Pear Compote, accompanied by grilled toast topped with mushrooms, if desired.
• In a bowl, combine all the ingredients, adding more or less of each, to taste. Mix well and then chill in the refrigerator.
• Peel and core the apples and pears. Roughly chop the fruit. Place the fruit in a medium saucepan. Add about 1 inch of water. Cover the pan and simmer the fruit over low heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Add honey, to taste. Serve the compote warm or at room temperature.

SWEET AND SMOKEY SPANISH-STYLE HAM

Steps:

• Let the ham sit at room temperature 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Trim off any skin from the ham if needed. Score the ham through the fat in a diagonal crosshatch pattern without cutting into the meat. Place the ham, flat-side down, on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1/4 inch of water into the bottom of the pan. Roast ham until it reaches an internal temperature of about 130 degrees F, about 2 1/2 hours or 15 minutes per pound.
• Meanwhile, combine the sugar, paprika, garlic powder and oregano in a small bowl and stir until well mixed. Whisk in the olive oil until the mixture is a smooth paste.
• Remove the ham from the oven when it has reached 130 degrees F internally. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Spoon or brush the mustard all over the ham. Spread the spice paste with a spoon as evenly as possible all over the ham. Add water as needed to the bottom of the pan. Return the ham to the oven and roast until the paste forms a very light brick red crust, turning once halfway through, about 25 minutes more.

CUBAN STYLE FRESH HAM

Steps:

• Mix together the juice, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, and water. Put the ham into a large bowl or leak-proof plastic bag and pour over the marinade. Let soak in the refrigerator overnight. (Or let the marinade steep for 1 hour, strain it, and inject it directly into the ham using a marinade injector; wrap and refrigerate the ham overnight. Use any leftover marinade for basting.)
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Remove the ham from the marinade, reserving the marinade, and pat dry. Strain the marinade into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Put the ham fat side up into a roasting pan and cook it for about 25 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature registers 155 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Baste the ham with the marinade every 20 minutes or so. Remove the ham, cover it with foil, and let it rest for about 15 minutes. The temperature will continue to rise to 160 degrees F. Slice and serve.

ARGENTINEAN CHIMICHURRI

Steps:

• Stir olive oil and lemon juice together with garlic, shallot, parsley, basil, thyme, and oregano; season to taste with salt and pepper. Allow to stand for 2 hours at room temperature before serving; store remaining chimichurri in refrigerator.