Double Smoked Ham For Easter

Easter is just around the corner and I'm looking forward to showing you how to smoke up some traditional Easter fare as well as some not so traditional fare.

This week, I am going to show you how to double smoke a store bought ham and really give it that smoky flavor that it is so perfect for. Your friends and family will be amazed at the flavor and especially when you add some of my rub to the outside as well.

Ham is the most requested recipe that I get around Easter and as you will see.. it is extremely easy but you're not required to let everyone else know how easy it is;-)

In my next newsletter just before Easter, I plan to show you some rack of lamb made into lamb chops and perhaps even some smoked eggs. Who knows what else I might think of to throw into the mix. Smoked rabbit perhaps? I have mixed feeling about doing rabbit around Easter due to the “cute factor” that surrounds kids and rabbits although I think it definitely falls into the Easter theme.

Enjoy the newsletter and please let me know if you try this recipe and find it as amazing as I do!

For those of you who do not know what I mean by double smoked ham.. let me explain. When you buy a ham in the store these days, usually it is already cured, smoked and cooked. You'd be surprised at how much flavor you can add by applying a little of my rub on the outside and by placing the ham back in the smoker for about 3 hours and putting some real wood smoke to it. It transforms regular old ham which is pretty good into something that family and friends will rave about.. I promise!

What to Buy

I highly recommend a spiral sliced ham with only natural juices if possible. The fact that it is spiral sliced means that more seasoning and more smoke can get down in the ham and that's a very good thing.

How to Prepare the Ham

This is so simple you will wonder why I even bother showing you pictures..

Unwrap the ham, throw away the glaze if it comes with any since you probably won't need it. You can use it if you like but I don't find that it is necessary.

Lay the unwrapped ham on it's side on a cutting board and apply a light coat of yellow mustard all over the ham. I prefer mustard since it makes such a nice crust but you can also use slightly warmed jelly, honey, olive oil, almost anything that will create a moist, sticky surface for the rub to stick to.

Last year I did a ham like this and used pineapple preserves all over the ham before I applied the rub and it was delicious so feel free to use your imagination a little here.

Once you have a moist, sticky surface all over the ham, apply a generous coating of my rub all over the ham. Top, bottom and all around.

The ham is now ready to smoke.. see what I mean when I said it was really easy?

Smoking the Ham

Prepare the smoker for about 225-240 and once it has reached that temperature the ham can be placed directly on the rack either with the large flat side down or on it's side. Leave the ham in the smoker for about 3 hours or until it reaches a good eating temperature.

I like to use a good heavy duty smoke for ham such as hickory, mesquite or a mix of one of these with some fruit wood to really bring out the wonderful smoky flavor.

I recommend applying smoke for the full 3 hours.

Summary

• Remove packaging and discard glaze
• Apply yellow mustard all over the ham
• Pour on some of my rub and massage it in
• Place ham on smoker on preheated smoker grate
• Smoke for about 3 hours
• Slice and eat immediately or keep warm until meal time

Notes

• If you happen to purchase a ham that has been cured but not cooked, cook it until it reaches about 165 degrees adding smoke the entire time.
• After removing all of the meat from a spiral sliced ham you will be left with a bone. Keep the bone in the freezer until the next time you make a pot of beans. The smoky ham adds something really wonderful to those beans.
• For another layer of flavor and a nice sheen for presentation, mix equal parts of honey and my barbecue sauce and brush it onto the ham about 30 minutes before it is done cooking.