Best Cured Country Ham With Grilled Artichokes Recipes

COUNTRY HAM

Steps:

• Unwrap ham and scrub off any surface mold (if you hung in a sack for 6 months you'd have mold too). Carefully remove hock with hand saw. (If this idea makes you eye your first aid kit, ask your butcher to do it. But make sure you keep the hock, it's the best friend collard greens ever had.)
• Place ham in cooler and cover with clean water. (As long as it's not too dirty you can use what southerners call the "hose pipe"). Stash the cooler in the bushes. If it's summer, throw in some ice. If it's freezing out, keep the cooler inside. Change the water twice a day for two days turning the ham each time.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place ham in a large disposable turkey-roasting pan and add enough Dr. Pepper to come about halfway up the side of the ham. Add pickle juice if you've got it and tent completely with heavy-duty foil. Cook for 1/2 hour then reduce heat to 325 degrees F, and cook another 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn the ham over, insert an oven safe thermometer (probe-style is best) and cook another 1 1/2 hours, or until the deepest part of the ham hits 140 degrees F (approximately 15 to 20 minutes per pound total).
• Let rest 1/2 hour then slice paper-thin. Serve with biscuits or soft yeast rolls.
• Cooks note: Even after soaking, country ham is quite salty, so thin slicing is mandatory. If you're a bacon fan, however, cut a thicker (1/4-inch) slice and fry it up for breakfast.

CURED COUNTRY HAM WITH GRILLED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Make the artichokes: Bring a large pot of water to a boil; season with salt. Juice lemon into water; add rind. Meanwhile, trim artichoke stems to 1/2 inch. Remove tough outer leaves. Trim pointy tips of artichoke leaves using kitchen shears. Cut artichokes in half lengthwise, and remove chokes by scraping with a small spoon. Transfer artichokes to lemon-water as you work, to prevent discoloration. Cook until hearts are easily pierced with a sharp knife, about 12 minutes. Drain, and let cool.
• Meanwhile, heat grill to medium-high. Make the aioli: Whisk together yolk, lemon juice, mustard, and oregano (or pulse in a food processor). Slowly pour in oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until emulsified; season with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle artichokes with oil. Season with salt and pepper; toss. Grill, turning, until lightly charred and caramelized, about 5 minutes.
• Arrange ham on a platter; top with artichokes. Serve with aioli.

GRILLED HAM

Steps:

• Preheat grill to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix brown sugar and mustard together in a bowl until a paste forms.
• Place ham on a large piece of aluminum foil. Spread brown sugar paste over entire ham. Wrap foil securely around ham, sealing all of the edges together. Place wrapped ham in a disposable pan.
• Grill ham on the preheated grill until heated through, about 2 1/2 hours. Remove ham from grill and let rest 30 minutes before slicing.

GRILLED ARTICHOKES RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients. Clean the grill grates. Prepare a medium (350°F to 375°F) gas or charcoal grill fire, or heat until you can hold a hand over the heat for 4 seconds.
• Pat the artichokes dry. Place the steamed artichoke halves cut side up onto a tray. Brush with the garlic olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika, if using.
• Place the artichokes cut side down onto the hot grill. Cover and grill for 8 to 10 minutes, or until there are grill marks on the stems.
• Let cool slightly before serving, sprinkling them with extra salt and lemon juice, if desired.

GRILLED GARLIC ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with cold water. Squeeze the juice from one lemon wedge into the water. Trim the tops from the artichokes, then cut in half lengthwise, and place halves into the bowl of lemon water to prevent them from turning brown.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
• Add artichokes to boiling water, and cook for about 15 minutes. Drain. Squeeze the remaining lemon wedges into a medium bowl. Stir in the olive oil and garlic, and season with salt and pepper.
• Brush the artichokes with a coating of the garlic dip, and place them on the preheated grill. Grill the artichokes for 5 to 10 minutes, basting with dip and turning frequently, until the tips are a little charred. Serve immediately with the remaining dip.