The truth is, you can use any supermarket bone-in ham for this recipe, or buy a half ham and cut the recipe accordingly. But considering the holiday occasion, it's worthwhile to get the best cured, smoked, bone-in ham you can find. Special-order one from your butcher or from dartagnan.com (we love the applewood-smoked version).
Ingredients
16 servings (with leftovers)
1
2
1
1
3
3
Preparation
Step 1
Arrange a rack on lowest level of oven; pre-heat to 300°. Without trimming fat, remove outer rind from most of ham, leaving a band around end of shank bone. Spacing cuts 3/4" apart to make a diamond pattern, score fat on top of ham crosswise and then lengthwise on a diagonal (do not cut into meat). Place ham in a large roasting pan. Pour 3 cups water into pan and roast ham for 2 hours.
Step 2
Meanwhile, stir brown sugar and mustard in a medium bowl until a thick paste forms; set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs; toast, stirring often, until very crispy, 5–7 minutes. Set aside.
Step 3
Remove ham from oven; increase temperature to 350°. Spread half of sugar-mustard paste over scored top of ham. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of ham registers 145°, about 1 hour. If pan juices have dried out, add 1 cup water to pan.
Step 4
Remove ham from oven; increase temperature to 400°. Spread remaining sugar-mustard paste over ham and pack breadcrumbs all over top.
Step 5
Bake ham until crumbs are deep golden brown and crisp, 12–15 minutes. Transfer ham to a serving platter; let rest for 20 minutes before carving.
Step 6
Line a fine-mesh sieve with cheesecloth. Set sieve over a medium pitcher or gravy boat. Spoon off fat from surface of juices in pan; discard. Add Madeira to pan. Place roasting pan over medium-high heat and simmer liquids briskly, scraping up browned bits, until sauce thickens and is reduced to 2 cups, about 15 minutes. Strain sauce through prepared sieve, pressing on solids; discard solids.
Step 7
Carve ham. Serve sauce alongside.