ESSENTIAL RECIPES- PORK
FESTIVE APPLE, CHERRY & BRANDY GAMMON ROAST
By SA Pork @ sa _ pork
This show-stopping Christmas gammon will make entertaining a breeze this season. It is baked with a rich basting of brandy and sweet cherry jam that’ s sticky and aromatic, guaranteeing a feast for the senses.
Serves: 8
INGREDIENTS
• olive oil
• 1 large gammon
• 3 Pink Lady or Royal Gala apples, sliced
• 8 pre-boiled medium potatoes, sliced into Hasselback potatoes
• 1 cup cherries, de-seeded( fresh or canned)
For the basting:
• ½ cup cherry jam
• ¼ cup brandy
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 5 star anise
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• salt & pepper
To serve:
• fresh rosemary
METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 175 ° C.
2. Rub the gammon with olive oil. In a bowl, mix together all the basting ingredients and season with salt and pepper.
3. Brush the gammon with the basting sauce and place in a baking tray with the sliced apples and Hasselback potatoes arranged around it.
4. Bake for 40 – 45 minutes, checking that the gammon is cooking through. Reduce the oven temperature to 160 ° C and cook for another 20 minutes.( Allow about 30 minutes cooking time for every 500g gammon.)
5. Remove from the oven, rest briefly and serve with fresh apple slices, cherries, rosemary and the crispy Hasselback potatoes.
PRO TIPS:
Simmer gammon with cider, cloves, and bay leaves for sweetness and aroma. Baste often while roasting for a glossy crust, then rest before carving. Save the cooking liquid for soups or lentils; it’ s packed with smoky, savoury depth.
62 | Summer 2025 / 26 • essentialflavours. co. za