Serves a Crowd

New Year's Day Fresh Ham

by:
December 20, 2021
4.3
9 Ratings
New Year's Day Fresh Ham
  • Prep time 35 minutes
  • Cook time 3 hours 10 minutes
  • Serves 12
Author Notes

It wasn't until I reached legal age that I figured out why New Year's Day dinner in my family always consisted of a huge hunk of protein that went into the oven at about 3 p.m., following an early afternoon "breakfast" of Bloody Marys and scrambled eggs. (I didn't get to sample the Bloody Marys until I was 18. Actually, 17. But who's counting?) At any rate, making a roast remains to this day the easiest way to confront the inevitable family gathering on New Year's Day. The fresh ham requires minimal servicing through the three hours of roasting, allowing ample time to recline on the couch, bathing one's reddened eyes with Visine, attempting to watch football, and regretting having ignored all one's resolutions. By the time it's done, you hopefully will have recuperated enough to make some awesome gravy. —wssmom

Test Kitchen Notes

Wssmom, who developed this recipe, is right when she says this ham is the perfect thing to make while hanging around on a cold holiday weekend. For New Year's Day and beyond, this easy-to-make ham may find its way onto many of your holiday tables. It's handsome and impressive, and we love the incorporation of roasted garlic into the rub. It turns out that pork fat and flour make a great roux, and the resulting gravy had a beautiful caramel color.

The developer actually didn't call for a specific amount oil, salt, and pepper for the rub, so try to trust your instincts here—we used about 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. We also opted to score the skin in a diamond shape, which makes for a lovely presentation. It takes a little extra effort, but your guests will love it. We recommend that you remove the ham from the oven when an instant-read thermometer registers about 155°F to 160°F—it will cook further as it rests. Let us know how your ham turns out below! —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 (14- to 16-pound) fresh ham
  • 1 head of roasted garlic, pulled apart, cloves mashed
  • 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons chopped thyme
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock, preferably homemade
Directions
  1. One hour before you begin, take the ham out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Heat the oven to 350°F. If you feel up to it, score the skin into a 1-inch diamond pattern.
  2. Using a mortar and pestle, grind the roasted garlic, rosemary, thyme, oil, salt, and pepper and rub into the meat.
  3. Place the ham in a roasting pan, skin side down, and roast for 1 hour. Turn skin side up and continue to roast, basting with the fat every 30 minutes, for about 3 hours total, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 160°F.
  4. Remove the pan from the oven, cover with foil, and let rest for 30 minutes. The internal temperature should eventually reach 170°F, which I am informed is the magic temperature for pork. (It supposedly is more tender at that temperature than 160°F, they say. Who am I to argue?)
  5. Pour off the fat from the pan into a fat separator, then pour 4 tablespoons back into the pan. (Alternatively, pour off all but 4 tablespoons of the fat). Place the roasting pan on the stove, heat over medium heat, and stir in 3 tablespoons of the flour, or 4 if you like your gravy thick. Cook, stirring, for about 1 minute. Gradually add the stock, a little at a time, and scrape up all those wonderful browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Cook, stirring frequently, until thickened. Strain the gravy into a saucepan and keep warm. If there's some nice juice in the fat separator, stir into the gravy.
  6. Carve the ham into thin slices. Serve with the gravy alongside.
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62 Reviews

Susan
Susan July 10, 2024
The thyme and rosemary, I’m assuming the amounts in the recipe call for fresh, not dried?
 
Bkhuna
Bkhuna December 29, 2021
Do you honestly believe that a 14-16 lb ham will come to room temperature in an hour out of the fridge?
 
Elizabeth S.
Elizabeth S. November 17, 2017
In 1969, we were stationed in Crete, Greece with the USAF. A fried, a young meat cutter on base, told us to try making a fresh ham (plentiful on the Greek economy then)..when I asked how, he suggested, bone in ham, fresh parmesan cheese, fresh garlic cloves inserted into slits in the ham, fresh parsley, and basting the ham frequently with the meat juices and SHERRY. OMG! Our kids still request this meal for the holidays! It is very similar to this recipe, just add the parsley,sherry and parmesan :-)
 
Tory N.
Tory N. December 15, 2015
this article popped up a few weeks ago with perfect timing. i have to cook for 25 people in a rental kitchen this saturday. 2 questions: if i can (key word) fit two hams in the oven at the same time, do i need to add any cooking time? and do you happen to know the best place to buy ham in nyc? i've never really had to think of that one before. thanks!
 
George
George February 9, 2014
It is hard to find "fresh ham" are most of you going to butchers for this? It is getting harder and harder to find a butcher. What is a ballpark range of price per pound that on would expect to pay?
 
Chef G.
Chef G. December 23, 2019
I just purchased a 12 pound fresh ham from Shoprite for $22 dollars (it was the butt half of a 24 lb whole ham). This has been my favorite Christmas dinner for years. I bake it with herbs and garlic and pepper. Don't like sweet sauces - just plain good savory fresh ham.
 
Emily L.
Emily L. December 23, 2013
Hi just wanted to check about the cut of ham. This is without the bone, yes? If I were to order it over the phone from my local butcher, I would be asking for .... ?? Many thanks.
 
kat-o
kat-o April 6, 2013
This recipe introduced me to food52 two years ago on, of course, new year's day. Trying to top a fantastic Christmas beef tenderloin, I wanted to kick up the new year's fresh ham. Made this and it was a HUGE hit. Made it again this past new years and just as awesome. You made my all time favorite cut of meat even more delicious. Thanks!
 
ColoradoCook
ColoradoCook May 20, 2012
Very belated comment as I tried this out for a special dinner a couple of months ago. I will, truly, never buy a pre-cooked ham again. This was so much more than the sum of its parts, and so easy. I have repeated the technique with a bone-in pork loin as well, to excellent results. Thank you for the inspiration!
 
lapadia
lapadia October 28, 2011
Contrats on being a finalist runner-up, wssmom! I have never made a fresh ham before and I will be trying your recipe this holiday season, sometime, will check back :). Printed out the recipe!
 
wssmom
wssmom October 28, 2011
Thanks so much Lapadia! I do hope you enjoy it as much as we do ...
 
EmilyC
EmilyC October 26, 2011
Congrats again, wssmom! You're sure to inspire a lot of people to try roasting a fresh ham (including me!).
 
wssmom
wssmom October 28, 2011
It's so worth it, plus the leftovers make great sandwiches!
 
Bevi
Bevi October 26, 2011
Congrats on being the contest finalist, wssmom. I look forward.....
 
wssmom
wssmom October 28, 2011
Thanks, Bevi. Such a thrill!
 
blanka.n
blanka.n October 23, 2011
I love this recipe for so many reasons. I cook fresh ham a lot. I've run out of creative ways to make it.
I think this one may become one of my favorites. Garlic and pork? What can go wrong??????
 
wssmom
wssmom October 23, 2011
Thanks so much blanka. n! You are so right - garlic and pork are awesome together!
 
Kitchen B.
Kitchen B. October 22, 2011
I've never cooked a fresh ham, before, eaten plenty but never stood at the helm. I love the headnotes. Congratulations
 
wssmom
wssmom October 23, 2011
I hope you get a chance to stand at the helm! Thanks!
 
wewhine
wewhine October 21, 2011
All I can say Wssmom is you sound like someone who sure likes to (fresh) ham it up. Since I've always been a (fresh) ham, this sounds absolutely divine! And I'm sure it's so much more flavorful than a cured ham! Happy New New Year!
 
wssmom
wssmom October 21, 2011
wow i guess you really liked it!! thanks!
 
wewhine
wewhine October 21, 2011
All I can say Wssmom is you sound like someone who sure likes to (fresh) ham it up. Since I've always been a (fresh) ham, this sounds absolutely divine! And I'm sure it's so much more flavorful than a cured ham! Happy New New Year!
 
wewhine
wewhine October 21, 2011
All I can say Wssmom is you sound like someone who sure likes to (fresh) ham it up. Since I've always been a (fresh) ham, this sounds absolutely divine! And I'm sure it's so much more flavorful than a cured ham! Happy New New Year!
 
Lizthechef
Lizthechef October 21, 2011
We always do roast pork for Pennsylvania Dutch good luck all year long. A ham works for me!
 
wssmom
wssmom October 21, 2011
fresh ham = uncured pork!
 
EmilyC
EmilyC October 21, 2011
I've always wanted to try a fresh ham -- and now I will! What a fabulous recipe. Congrats!
 
wssmom
wssmom October 21, 2011
Not too different from roast pork, but it makes an awesome presentation and a great gravy!
 
Idis
Idis October 21, 2011
Yes! finally I can make fresh ham and not that ready sliced ham for the holidays... Sounds super easy and delicioso!
 
wssmom
wssmom October 21, 2011
Definitely!
 
HisChef
HisChef October 20, 2011
I can't wait until NewYears! I'm going to get my ham tomorrow to cook for Sunday dinner! I have Rosemary & Thyme growing in my garden and love the combination with poultry. Never thought about using a mortar (which I will also purchase tomorrow) to make a rub....
 
wssmom
wssmom October 20, 2011
Using a mortar is a great way to relax1