Easter Recipes: 2 Savory Ways To Give Your Ham A Latin Kick This Easter

From the breakfast nook to the dinner table, Easter is not complete without a Smithfield Spiral Sliced Ham! Perfectly cooked, hand-trimmed and uniformly sliced, these famous hickory-smoked hams make holiday entertaining both headaches- and hassle-free, so you can get out of the kitchen and spend more time with family and friends - something we think we can all appreciate.

Whether serving it with a glaze-like an Orange Chipotle Ham or incorporating it into easy appetizers like a Ham & Brie Crostini, the ham will lend itself to a variety of dishes, making this your most savory holiday yet.

Have some fun this Easter and share with your loved ones an unforgettable dish!

• ORANGE CHIPOTLE HAM

INGREDIENTS

· 8 lbs Smithfield Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham

· 1 1/2 canned chipotle chilies in adobo (adjust for taste)

· 1 1/2 pt fresh orange juice

· 1/4 cup fresh lime juice

· 1 tbsp ground cumin

· 1/2 tbsp ground achiote (or paprika)

· 1 tbsp orange zest

· 2 tbsp tequila

· Smithfield honey glaze packet

· 1/2 cup sugar or honey

· 1 cinnamon stick

· 2 whole cloves

· 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

· 2 tbsp corn starch

INSTRUCTIONS

• For the Orange Chipotle Sauce:

Remove seeds from the chipotle pepper or chilies. For a spicy sauce, do not remove seeds. Combine the orange juice, lime juice, chipotle chilies, cumin and achiote in a blender and puree until smooth. Strain if desired. Place the orange chipotle puree in a medium-sized saucepan. Add the orange zest, tequila, Smithfield honey glaze packet, sugar or honey, cinnamon stick, and cloves. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 25-30 minutes. Remove the cloves and the cinnamon stick.

• For the Baked Ham with Orange Chipotle Sauce:

Pre-heat oven to 325F. Place the Smithfield Spiral Sliced Ham in a large baking pan, with the flat side of ham facing down. Pour 1/2 of the orange chipotle sauce over the ham. Cover the ham with foil and bake for about 1 hour. The warm remaining orange chipotle sauce in a saucepan. Remove foil from the ham and pour the remaining sauce over the ham. Continue baking the ham for another 40-45 minutes, basting it every 10-15 minutes with the pan sauces. Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before carving and serving.

• For the Orange Chipotle Gravy:

Place about 3 cups of the pan sauces in a small saucepan with the balsamic vinegar. Bring to boil and cook for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the corn starch with a little bit of the pan sauces or water and stir into gravy sauce. Mix until well dissolved and thickened. Remove from heat and serve warm.

• HAM & BRIE CROSTINI WITH FIG JAM

INGREDIENTS

· 1/4 cup fig jam

· 1 French baguette (10-12 ounces), sliced on the bias, ¼-inch thick (about 24 pieces)

· 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

· 3/4 pound Smithfield Ham slices, cut into 24 pieces

· 9 ounces Brie cheese, sliced & cut into 24 pieces

1. Preheat oven to 400 ℉. Lightly brush both sides of baguette slices with oil and place slightly spaced on rimmed baking pans. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp.

2. Top each slice with ham and Brie and bake for an additional 5-8 minutes or until Brie has just begun to melt. Top each crostini with fig jam and serve warm for best flavor.

Chef’s Tip: Try topping with fresh thyme leaves before baking for an additional flavor boost!