British · main
English Ham
English Ham reads richness 7.6, umami 7.5 and sweetness 5.3 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a British main, about 1 hr 19 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 8.0 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 6.0 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 1.9 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 2.7 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 7.9 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 3.7 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Richness 7.6 · Umami 7.5 · Sweetness 5.3 · Salinity 5.0 · Allium 3.5 · Smoke 2.2 · Fruity 2.2 · Herbaceous 1.8 · Sourness 1.7 · Earthy 1.7 · Bitterness 1.5 · Floral 1.1 · Nutty 0.9 · Citrus 0.6 · Warm Spice 0.5
What's in it (9)
- 1 (8 -10 lb) nice braising ham or (8 -10 lb) country ham
- 2 onions
- 2 stalks celery
- 2 carrots
- 1 cup madeira wine
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- butter
- thyme
- bay leaf
Time & effort: about 1 hr 19 min (34 min active) · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 158.9 kcal, 19.4 g protein, 7.4 g fat, 1.3 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (8 steps)
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Rub the ham with a mixture of bay leaves and thyme.
- Chop the vegetables and saute them gently in butter with the sugar, a little thyme and a bay leaf until the onions are translucent.
- Add 1/2 cup Madeira and let it evaporate almost completely.
- Place the ham in a roasting pan and cover with the vegetable mixture, drizzle with melted butter, cover and cook in the preheated 400° F oven for 20-25 minutes per pound.
- Remove the ham from the oven and transfer to a serving platter,reserve the vegetables.
- Degrease the cooking juices and pour them into a small saucepan; you should have about 1 cup; if not, add some water or stock; add the remaining 1/2 cup Madeira.
- Reduce slightly; liquefy with the vegetables in a blender and pour over the ham.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Bandeja Paisa — Colombian
- Rabo de Toro al Vino de Montilla — Spanish · Andalusia
- Hungarian Beef Goulash — Hungarian
- Jajangmyeon (짜장면) — Korean
- Traditional Hopping John — Southern
Keep reading: what richness, umami, sweetness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →
Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.