Zesty Grilled Ham

Jack's garden operation grows more ambitious every year. The greenhouse, the market sales, the Farm Fund jar that now holds over three hundred dollars. He's 13 and he farms the way some kids play video games — obsessively, joyfully, with the deep understanding that this is not a hobby but a vocation wearing a hobby's clothes.

Thursday was tater tot hotdish, because Thursday is always tater tot hotdish and the schedule doesn't change for anything — not pandemics, not loss, not the passage of years. The tater tots go in at 375 and come out golden and the family eats them and the eating is the Thursday and the Thursday is the structure and the structure holds. But I also made ham and bean soup earlier this week, because the kitchen doesn't only look backward. The kitchen grows.

The cookie season has ended and the soup season has settled in. The kitchen smells like broth and thyme and the slow simmer of food that takes hours and rewards the hours with warmth. Winter cooking is patient cooking. The patience is Marlene's gift. The cooking is mine.

Ham has been on my mind all week — the ham and bean soup I made earlier reminded me how much a good piece of ham can anchor a meal the way Thursday anchors the week. When I came across this Zesty Grilled Ham, something clicked: it’s simple enough to fit inside a busy schedule, flavorful enough to feel like you made an effort, and the kind of recipe that feels right in a kitchen that’s learning to grow. Marlene would’ve appreciated the no-fuss approach. I appreciate it too.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes | Servings: 4

Ingredients

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
4 fully cooked bone-in ham steaks (about 6 oz each)

Instructions

Make the glaze. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, horseradish, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the mixture is well combined.
Prepare the grill. Preheat an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to medium heat. Lightly oil the grate or pan to prevent sticking.
Grill the ham. Place ham steaks on the grill. Cook for 3–4 minutes per side, brushing generously with the glaze each time you flip. Continue basting and turning until the ham is heated through and the glaze is caramelized and slightly charred at the edges, about 12–15 minutes total.
Rest and serve. Remove ham steaks from the grill and let rest for 2 minutes before serving. Drizzle with any remaining glaze if desired.

Nutrition (per serving)

Zesty Grilled Ham — When the Kitchen Grows Beyond Thursday