Rasta Ham

Bring bold Caribbean flair to your holiday table with this show-stopping Rasta Ham. This succulent, bone-in ham is glazed with a tantalizing mix of pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey, and whole-grain mustard, infused with vibrant island spices like allspice, cinnamon, and ginger. A touch of red pepper flakes—and optional fiery Scotch bonnet pepper—gives the glaze a gentle kick, while fresh thyme and scallions add a fragrant, herbaceous finish. Studded with cloves and basted to perfection, the ham caramelizes beautifully in the oven for a sticky, golden-brown crust bursting with sweet and spicy flavors. Whether you’re hosting a festive gathering or craving a tropical twist on classic baked ham, this recipe is sure to impress. Perfect for feeding a crowd, this Rasta Ham pairs wonderfully with sides like roasted vegetables or coconut rice for a truly unforgettable meal.

Nutriscore Rating: 55/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:120 mins

Total Time:140 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 8 lbs Bone-in ham
• 2 cups Pineapple juice
• 1 cup Brown sugar
• 1 cup Honey
• 2 tbsp Whole-grain mustard
• 1 tsp Allspice
• 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp Ground ginger
• 1 tsp Garlic powder
• 1 tsp Red pepper flakes
• 2 tsp Fresh thyme leaves
• 3 Scallions (finely chopped)
• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper (optional, for heat)
• 12 Cloves (whole)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).

Step 2

Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the ham in a crisscross diamond pattern. Be sure not to cut too deeply—just make shallow cuts into the surface.

Step 3

Stud the ham with whole cloves by pushing them into the intersections of the diamond patterns made from scoring.

Step 4

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey, whole-grain mustard, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.

Step 5

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently, until the glaze thickens slightly (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the chopped scallions, thyme, and finely diced Scotch bonnet pepper (if using).

Step 6

Place the ham in a large roasting pan. Using a brush or spoon, generously coat the ham with the prepared glaze, making sure to get it into the scored sections for maximum flavor.

Step 7

Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning, and place it in the preheated oven.

Step 8

Bake the ham for about 1.5 to 2 hours (or 15 minutes per pound), basting with the glaze every 30 minutes. Remove the foil during the last 30 minutes of baking to allow the glaze to caramelize beautifully on the ham.

Step 9

Once the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C) when checked with a meat thermometer, remove it from the oven.

Step 10

Let the ham rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm, garnished with extra fresh thyme or scallions if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	4470.7 grams (4470.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	6398

Total Fat 204.80g	263%
Saturated Fat 73.50g	368%
Polyunsaturated Fat NaNg
Cholesterol 1996mg	665%
Sodium 43957mg	1911%
Total Carbohydrate 349.20g	127%
Dietary Fiber 14.10g	50%
Total Sugars 320.10g
Protein 768.20g	1536%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 523mg	40%
Iron 39mg	216%
Potassium 10860mg	231%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 29.2%

Protein: 48.7%

Carbs: 22.1%