roasted marmalade gammon
Here’s one of Jamie Oliver’s most interesting roast dishes from his cookbook Jamie’s Dinners: roasted marmalade gammon ham. This recipe is something that takes a humble cut of gammon and turns it into a sticky, rich, and deeply satisfying roast that is sure to impress any dinner party guests or serve as a family meal centrepiece. And as the nights draw in and we want something cosy and nourishing.
The roasted ham recipe itself is brilliantly simple but delivers a depth of flavour that feels indulgent and well thought out. The marmalade glaze adds a bittersweetness, complementing the savoury gammon. What I love about this dish is the texture. The gammon stays incredibly juicy, and that sticky marmalade glaze clings to the crispy edges, making every bite a balance of sweet and salty. It makes the leftovers the next day just as enticing – imagine a slice of this juicy gammon in a crusty sandwich with some sharp mustard.
Jamie’s Dinners marks a bit of a shift for Jamie Oliver. It feels more focused than some of his earlier work, and you can see he’s aiming to help families make meals that are both accessible and impressive. It’s the beginning of what I think is his more refined, practical approach to food, especially when compared to his earlier, more relaxed Naked Chef days. The recipes in this book, including this roasted ham recipe, are geared towards real-life cooking for real people – busy families who want good food without the faff.
Jamie’s Dinners has plenty of charm. It’s filled with Jamie’s passion for taking something simple, like a piece of gammon, and turning it into a meal that feels special. The layout and instructions are straightforward, which is what you want from a cookbook you actually intend to cook from regularly. The recipe for this roasted marmalade ham is no exception – it’s easy to follow but the results are better than the effort you put in! This is why I think it’s a solid book for anyone looking to make crowd-pleasers without getting bogged down in complexity.
Coming back to the recipe, it’s clear that this roasted ham is a great example of Jamie Oliver’s ability to take classic British flavours and give them a bit of a twist. The marmalade adds a layer of complexity and sweetness that you don’t usually get with roast gammon.
In conclusion Jamie’s Dinners really is the start of Jamie’s journey into more practical, accessible cooking for everyday people.
Here’s the recipe on Jamie’s site.
roasted marmalade ham
Ingredients
- 1 kg gammon
- 1 carrot
- 1 sticks of celery
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 jar of marmalade
- fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Place the gammon in a large pot and cover with water. Add the carrots, celery, bay and peppercorns. Place the pot over a high heat, bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 1 hour 15 minutes with a lid on.
- Turn off the heat and allow to cool for half an hour in the broth. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Transfer the meat to a board and, using a knife, take off the skin.
- Score the fat left on the meat and season generously with black pepper. Place the ham in a roasting tray and roast for 20 minutes, or until the fat renders and becomes slightly crispy.
- Remove from the oven and rub the marmalade all over the meat, and scatter over the rosemary.
- Return to the oven for 30 minutes to 1 hour, basting frequently until you can't resist it any more.