Name: Orange, Cinnamon, and Star Anise Glaze
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 cup orange juice; 1 tablespoon grated orange zest; 2 cups packed brown sugar (dark or light); 4 star anise (pods); 1 cinnamon stick (3-inches)

Why This Recipe Works

For a flavorful, succulent fresh ham recipe worthy of a holiday table, we purchased a shank end with the skin on and scored the fat. Then we brined the ham in a solution flavored with brown sugar, garlic, bay leaves, and black peppercorns. Starting the ham at high heat and finishing at low heat gave us a crisp, flavorful skin and tender meat. We finished our fresh ham recipe with a sweet—but not too sweet—glaze.

Instructions

Bring orange juice, zest, brown sugar, star anise, and cinnamon to boil in small nonreactive saucepan over high heat; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until syrupy and reduced to about 1 1/3 cups, 5 to 7 minutes. (Glaze will thicken as it cools between bastings; cook over medium heat about 1 minute, stirring once or twice, before using.)