Ham Cooked in Cola

[Mad Cook]

Going back to the "What wouldn't you like to see on your plate" thread, the above has become very popular on the dinner party circuit over here courtesy of Nigella Lawson who's included it in a couple of her books.

I find it interesting that people rave about how fabulous it is but rarely seem to serve it more than once. I wonder if this is significant? "Emperor's New Clothes" ie "we're having it because it's fashionable and we want to look on trend but we don't like it much"?

Is this a dish you have much in America and what is it really like?

Incidentally, we once took a holiday house for a month and the loo was disgusting. The shops were closed and there were no cleaning materials available. We were at a loss until someone remembered reading that coca cola was a good cleaning agent. Someone else pulled a big bottle of the stuff out of her bag and poured it round the toilet bowl and left it to stand while we unpacked and went out for fish and chips and a pint or two.

When we came back we flushed and, lo and behold, a sparkling spotless loo! Hate to think what it does to your insides to say nothing of your teeth.

 

[Hoot]

I have heard and read of using cola for cooking purposes to apparently add sweetness. I have never done it or known anyone to use it.
I did see fried Coca-cola at a fair a couple years ago.

 

[Steve Kroll]

I've never heard of it, but I don't drink or buy soft drinks.

 

[CraigC]

I've heard of using it to braise, but it is just one of the ingredients. I've also heard of using root beer in the same fashion. I believe there is a BBQ sauce in one of my books that uses root beer as well.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I have heard of it, never done it.

I like to roast meat without a sweet glaze, I like to use the drippings for gravies, frying potatoes etc.

I do sometimes "paint" a baked ham with a little pure maple syrup while it is resting, waiting to be carved.

An exception to every rule, don't it drive ya nuts!

 

[Rocket_J_Dawg]

I have heard it used when doing pulled pork and also slow smoked ribs...as a brine. I'll see if I can find the recipes. I've never done it myself but a neighbor once did a pork shoulder with Root Beer and it was pretty good.

Edit: I found one for ribs.
Cola Spare Ribs with BBQ Beans Recipe | BBQ Pit Boys

 

[Dawgluver]

I've made pulled pork with cola in the CP a number of times, pretty good stuff.

 

[Rocket_J_Dawg]

I've made pulled pork with cola in the CP a number of times, pretty good stuff.

Yes, I"ve seen recipes for it but be darned if I can find them now. Here is one I found for ham.

Pineapple Bacon Ham Roast Recipe | BBQ Pit Boys

 

[Andy M.]

Heard of it. Never did it. Not a big fan of baked ham.

 

[jabbur]

Never baked a ham with cola. My sister did pulled pork once with it. All she did was to put the pork butt in the crock pot, added a 12 oz. can of regular Coke and cook. She said it was some of the best pork she'd ever had. I have it on my list to try it the next time I get a pork butt. I may try the ham too.

 

[CarolPa]

I have heard of it but never tried it. I also have heard of a chocolate cake made with coca cola and our local volunteer fire company is known for their ham barbecue sandwiches, the sauce being made by combining coca cola and ketchup, I believe. Ham barbecue sandwiches are a really big thing in Pittsburgh.

I guess I should have checked before I posted. I found a recipe for the barbecue sauce and it does contain quite a few more ingredients.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-fantasy/coca-cola-barbeque-sauce-recipe/index.html

 

[Mad Cook]

I have heard and read of using cola for cooking purposes to apparently add sweetness. I have never done it or known anyone to use it.
I did see fried Coca-cola at a fair a couple years ago.

Fried Coca cola, I'll have to think about that!

Was it used in fritters or something like that?

 

[Mad Cook]

Never baked a ham with cola. My sister did pulled pork once with it. All she did was to put the pork butt in the crock pot, added a 12 oz. can of regular Coke and cook. She said it was some of the best pork she'd ever had. I have it on my list to try it the next time I get a pork butt. I may try the ham too.

That looks something like the methods I've seen. One of recipes (not one of NL's) said it MUST be Coca-cola not Pepsi or supermarket's own. Made me think it might originally have been an invention of the C-C company.

(I always thought that a pork butt was from the pig's back end but came across a diagram of American cuts of meat which said it's part of the pig's shoulder. One lives and learns.)

 

[Hoot]

Fried Coca cola, I'll have to think about that!

Was it used in fritters or something like that?

Kinda.. It's Coke mixed with other flavorings, sugar and flour. Rolled into balls and deep fried. There's a bunch of recipes...Google is your friend.

 

[Gravy Queen]

I am a Nigella fan but I hate ham in coke, I tried it just once, waste of a good ham .

 

[GotGarlic]

That looks something like the methods I've seen. One of recipes (not one of NL's) said it MUST be Coca-cola not Pepsi or supermarket's own. Made me think it might originally have been an invention of the C-C company.

Maybe, but many people are adamant about their preference for one or the other. I've never done a ham with cola, but I'm not a fan of baked ham, either. I like it smoked.

 

[CarolPa]

I like baked ham, but I don't understand what the Coca Cola is supposed to do to it.

 

[GotGarlic]

I like baked ham, but I don't understand what the Coca Cola is supposed to do to it.

I think the acid will tenderize and as it reduces, the sweetener will caramelize into a glaze.