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Ham with Salsa Macha for Thanksgiving – Bold Festive Fusion Recipe

Ham with Salsa Macha for Thanksgiving

This bold and flavorful twist on traditional Thanksgiving ham features a smoky, nutty Mexican Salsa Macha glaze that transforms your holiday dinner into something unforgettable.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Ham
  • 1 fully cooked bone-in ham
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp orange zest freshly grated
For the Salsa Macha
  • 4 dried ancho chilies stemmed and seeded
  • 4 dried árbol chilies stemmed and seeded
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup raw peanuts or sesame seeds
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt or to taste

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Blender or Food Processor
  • Roasting Pan
  • Small Skillet

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Score the ham in a diamond pattern.
  2. Mix brown sugar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, cinnamon, smoked paprika, and orange zest to make a glaze.
  3. Rub the glaze over the ham. Place in roasting pan and bake for 2.5 to 3 hours, basting occasionally.
  4. To make Salsa Macha: toast the chilies lightly, then fry garlic in oil until golden. Add peanuts or sesame seeds and toast gently.
  5. Blend the toasted ingredients with vinegar and salt until textured but not completely smooth.
  6. Brush Salsa Macha over ham during final 30 minutes of roasting. Increase heat slightly to caramelize.

Notes

This recipe fuses Mexican and American holiday traditions into one show-stopping dish. Try it once, and it might just become your new Thanksgiving favorite.