If there's one slow cooker recipe that turns heads and wins hearts, it's this Slow Cooker Gammon In Cola. Perfect for a roast dinner or any special occasion, this easy recipe transforms a humble joint into a tender, flavour-packed showstopper. Sweet, salty, and irresistibly sticky-this is gammon done right, with minimal effort!
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Slow Cooking Gammon
Gammon, a boneless joint taken from the hind legs of the pig, is a versatile cut known for its rich, salty flavour. Slow cooking gammon works wonders, gently drawing out excess salt while ensuring the meat turns irresistibly tender and juicy.
The beauty of this method lies in its convenience and ability to infuse the meat with the flavours of your choice-like the subtle sweetness of cola-over a long, lazy cooking period. It's a no-fuss way to elevate this classic cut into a melt-in-your-mouth centrepiece for any meal.
Ingredients and Substitutes
- carrot: peeled and chopped into 3-4 chunks.
- onion: peeled and cut into wedges. You may also add a celery stick.
- unsmoked gammon joint: if you wish, you may use a smoked gammon joint, but note that it may be a little saltier.
- cola: we used cherry cola. You may use Coca Cola or only other brands of cola. Diet Coke works too, but the flavour is more prominent with full fat coke.
- maple syrup: may be replaced with clear honey or agave nectar.
- wholegrain mustard.
- Chinese five spice: may be substituted with a mixture of ground cloves, fennel and cinnamon.
Extras: If you are looking for an extra aromatic roast for Christmas dinner or Boxing Day, add a cinnamon stick, a couple of star anise, a few whole cloves and ½ teaspoon of black peppercorns alongside the vegetables and cole into your slow cooker.
Alternative Glaze for Gammon
Fancy a sweeter, stickier glaze for your slow-cooked gammon. Use the glaze from our Apple Cider Gammon in a Slow Cooker recipe! Here's what to do.
Mix 3 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar (or demerara sugar) and 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, and pour it over the cooked gammon before a quick blast in the oven.
Step-By-Step Method
1. Place the carrot chunks and onion wedges in the slow cooker bowl.
2. Place the gammon joint on top. Pour enough cola over to submerge it by at least ¾. Cover with the lid and cook on high setting for 4-5 hours, or on low setting for 7-8 hours.
3. When the gammon is finished cooking, preheat the oven to 220° C Fan. Line a roasting tin with foil.
4. In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, mustard and Chinese five spice.
5. Take the cooked gammon out of the slow cooker and remove any string or netting. Cut the rind (if your joint has it) leaving a layer of fat on top. Score the fat in a criss-cross pattern using a sharp knife.
6. Smear the glaze all over the gammon and roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until dark and sticky. Brush some more sticky glaze that gathered at the bottom of the tray on top of the gammon just before serving.
What To Serve With Slow Cooker Gammon in Cola?
Slow Cooker Gammon in Cola makes a wonderful Sunday roast, so we recommend you serve it with traditional side dishes like roast potatoes (or baby hasselback potatoes), cauliflower cheese and honey roast carrots and parsnips.
My mother-in-law recently served gammon with Boulangere Potatoes and it was an excellent pairing too. A nice green side will go well too with this sweet and salty dish. Green beans and cherry tomatoes or Garlic and Lemon Ternderstem Broccoli are both great options.
We love gammon served with a spoonful of mustard or cranberry sauce over the Christmas holidays.
Recipe FAQs
Slow Cooker Gammon in Cola offers a perfect balance of the sweetness of the cola and the saltiness of the gammon, creating a rich, savoury-sweet flavour profile. The Coke taste is subtle but adds a unique caramelized depth. The kitchen will have a strong smell of cola though!
To know if your slow cooker gammon is cooked, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature-it should reach 70°C/145°F. Alternatively, insert a sharp knife into the gammon; if it slides out easily, it's done. Keep in mind that cooking time can vary depending on your slow cooker, so these methods are your best indicators for perfectly tender meat. I prefer slightly drier gammon if it's served hot, so you can leave it in the slow cooker for longer, as it doesn't dry out quickly.
Leftovers and Storage
Keep any cooked gammon in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days. To freeze, slice the gammon into portions, wrap well in foil or plastic wrap, and place in a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep for up to 3 months.
Leftovers can be used in numerous different ways:
- Add to hearty ham or lentil soup for a comforting meal.
- Make a ham pie with puff pastry, creamy sauce, and veggies-perfect for dinner.
- Toss into creamy or tomato-based pasta dishes for extra flavor.
- Swap gammon for bacon in omelettes, quiches, or fried rice.
- Use it in our fried cheesy pork dumplings with diced ham recipe.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
If you love slow cooking and need delicious, fuss-free meals that the whole family will enjoy, these slow cooker recipes are likely to tickle your fancy:
Slow Cooker Gammon In Cola
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 carrot peeled
- 1 onion peeled and cut into wedges
- 1.3 kg (2.87 lb) gammon joint unsmoked
- 1.5 l (6⅓ cups) cola enough to cover the roast by at least ¾
For The Glaze
- 70 g (¼ cups) maple syrup or honey
- 1 heaped tablespoon wholegrain mustard
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice
Instructions
- Place the carrot chunks and onion wedges in the bowl of the slow cooker.
- Place the gammon joint on top. Pour the cola over to submerge it by at least ¾. Cover with the lid and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 7-8 hours.
- When the gammon is finished cooking, preheat the oven to 220° C. Line a baking tray with foil.
- In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, mustard and Chinese five spice.
- Take the cooked gammon out of the slow cooker and remove any string or netting. Cut the rind (if your joint has it) leaving a layer of fat on top. Score the fat in a criss-cross pattern using a sharp knife.
- Smear the glaze all over the gammon and roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until dark and sticky. Brush some more glaze that gathered at the botom of the tray on top of the gammon just before serving.
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