Swedish Christmas Ham (julskinka)

Total Time: 316 hrs Preparation Time: 312 hrs Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• 12 lbs fresh ham (not cooked or cured or smoked- just raw pig leg)
• 1 cup salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon saltpeter
• 6 quarts water
• 3 cups salt
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons saltpeter
• 2 bay leaves
• 10 peppercorns
• 10 allspice berries
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon mustard powder
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs

Recipe

• 1 combine 1 cup salt, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 tablespoon of saltpeter. massage this mixture all over the ham, coating the entire surface well.
• 2 place the ham in a food-safe container large enough to hold it, cover, and place in a very cool place for 3 days turning occasionally. (in the old days, a wooden or stone container would be used; i use a large bucket lined with an extra large zip top bag.).
• 3 on the third day, bring the water to a boil, add the salt, sugar and saltpeter. once the salt has dissolved, remove from the heat and cool.
• 4 pour the brine over the ham- it should be completely covered.
• 5 ***if you don't have enough to cover, make more brine, using 1/2 cup salt and 1 tablespoon sugar for each quart of water. the amount you need will vary depending on the size of the ham and the size of the container you use.
• 6 cover the container, put it in a cool place, and leave for 10 days.
• 7 after it has sat for 10 days, remove from the brine, and wipe well.
• 8 place fat side up in a pot of boiling water, covering the ham completely.
• 9 bring the water back to a boil, add the bay leaves, peppercorns and allspice berries, and cover.
• 10 simmer for 3 hours, or until tender.
• 11 remove from the cooking pot and take off the skin. using a cloth, wipe off all of the loose fat. place back in the water, and let cool.
• 12 preheat the oven to 350°f.
• 13 combine the egg , mustard powder and sugar.
• 14 remove the ham from the water, pat dry, and coat with the egg mixture.
• 15 sprinkle with the bread crumbs, patting them to ensure they stick to the egg coating.
• 16 place in the oven, and let bake until the bread crumbs are golden brown.
• 17 let cool completely, and slice to serve.