Cajun Root Beer Ham
This Cajun root beer ham will transport you to the bayou without leaving your dinner table. Its spicy rub delivers flavor, while the root beer adds an earthy note with herbs and roots. This is one delicious ham!
Ham and twice-baked potatoes are a match made in potato heaven. When you purposefully pair Horseradish twice-baked potatoes with Cajun Root Beer Ham, you’ll have textures and flavors that beautifully complement each other for a special, memorable meal.
Cajun spice can be found in local supermarkets. Be sure to check the label, as some less expensive brands have salt as the first ingredient. When I purchase spice mixes, I only buy them if they don’t contain salt. This is because I want to manage the flavor profile.
Can you imagine putting a salt-based rub on a salty cured ham? The salt would overwhelm the meal, and you would lose the depth of the flavors you’re working to create.
Since I purchased a chamber sealer, I have been buying my spice in bulk. Then I vacuum seal what doesn’t fit in the jar, which keeps them fresh for months. Because of this, I’ve been mixing spices instead of buying them separately. This has boosted the flavor profiles in my recipes. The spices are fresher since I’m using them in various mixes and recipes.
Cajun Root Beer Ham
Ingredients
- 1 5-6 pound smoked ham - high quality
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning no salt
- Black pepper freshly ground - to taste
- 2 bottles root beer Sprechers or good quality
Glaze
- ½ cup brown sugar dark
- 2 tbsp root beer
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning no salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Score the ham, and if desired, add whole cloves to scored sections. Rub the Cajun seasoning and pepper over the entire ham.1 5-6 pound, Black pepper, 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- Place the ham, fat side down, in the roasting pan. Pour the root beer into the pan, so it is halfway up the side of the roaster.2 bottles root beer
- Carefully transfer the ham to the oven. Cook for 1 hour.
- Turn the ham over, and cover with additional seasoning. Cook for one additional hour
Glaze
- Combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat on medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat.Black pepper, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp root beer, 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- Remove the ham from the oven. Spoon the glaze onto the ham, spreading with a pastry brush to cover the entire ham.
- Cook for 20 minutes. Rest for 10 minutes. Slice, and serve warm.
Kitchen Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
De Froid Tip: Tablescape Colors and Textures
Choose a bright palette filled with color and texture to add excitement to a table. In this example, you’ll find blue, pink, green, yellow, and purple, all in tones that complement each other. Notice how the pop of white gives the table a sense of stability and pureness.
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