Ginger gammon with mustard sauce

Perfect for feeding large numbers over the festive period. Can be served hot or cold. 

Ingredients

For the gammon

• 3kg/6lb 8oz unsmoked gammon joint, off the bone
• 600ml/21fl oz ginger beer
• 4 pieces stem ginger, finely chopped
• 4 tbsp ginger syrup from the jar

For the mustard sauce

• 200g/7oz full-fat crème fraîche
• 6 tbsp full-fat mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp wholegrain mustard
• pinch caster sugar
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160C/140C Fan/Gas 3.
2. To make the gammon, put the gammon joint in a saucepan that fits snugly. Pour in the ginger beer and 1.2 litres/2 pints of water or just enough to cover the gammon. Cover with a lid, bring to the boil and boil for a few minutes. Transfer to the oven for about 2½ hours or until cooked through. Alternatively, simmer over a low heat for about 2½ hours.
3. Increase the oven temperature to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
4. Remove the gammon joint from the liquid and, using a sharp knife, slice off the skin, just leaving a very thin layer.
5. Line a roasting tin with kitchen foil, sit the gammon, fatiside up in the tin and wrap the foil around the meat just leaving the top showing. Score the fat and drizzle over the ginger syrup. Scatter over the chopped ginger and press lightly so the top fat is covered.
6. Bake in the hot oven for about 25 minutes or until golden and glazed on top.
7. To make the sauce, mix all the ingredients together and season with salt and pepper.
8. Slice the gammon into thin slices and serve hot or cold with the sauce.