Holiday Ham Wellington

Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and of course, delicious food. While turkey might traditionally be the food of Thanksgiving, this impressive and delicious Ham Wellington adds a twist to your Thanksgiving feast. It might sound intimidating, but @ZimmysNook says that with the store-bought puff pastry and a little patience, it’s simpler than you may think!

With the combination of Grimm’s Honey & Maple flavoured Ham, mustard, shredded cheese, and fresh thyme all wrapped in a blanket of flaky puff pastry, this dish is sure to impress your guests. 

This recipe is great for gatherings of four but can be easily doubled to serve eight.

Ingredients

• 1 – 700g Grimm’s Honey & Maple Flavoured Ham, naturally smoked and extra lean

• 1 – 400g package of puff pastry, thawed and kept cold

• 1 tablespoon stone ground mustard

• 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

• 1/3 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, freshly shredded (or Parmesan)

• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped

• 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F, with the oven rack in the centre.
   
2. Remove the ham from the packaging and pat dry with paper towels.
   
3. Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured surface, into a 13”h x 11” w rectangle. Next, trim the puff pastry into a cross “+” by cutting out 4 ¼”h x 3” w rectangles in the corners. See diagram.
   
4. Brush the edges with the egg wash, approximately 1” wide.
5. Spread the mustard on the inside of the pastry, within the egg wash border. Next sprinkle both the cheeses and thyme evenly over the mustard.
6. Place the ham upside down in the centre of the pastry, with the cut side facing the shorter piece of the “+”. Then fold the pastry over the ham, using more egg wash if necessary to secure each fold.
7. Once complete, turn the ham (with seams facing down) and place on a parchment paper lined sheet pan. Brush the entire pastry with the remaining egg wash.
8. Place the sheet pan in the fridge for 30 minutes or freezer for 15 minutes. This is a crucial step, puff pastry needs to be chilled, when going into the hot oven in order for it to rise properly. Chilling the pastry ensures the buttery layers remain separate and flaky.
9. Place the wellington in the oven and cook for approximately 1 hour or until it is golden brown, and the ham is heated through.
10. Slice, then serve with extra mustard and garnish with fresh thyme. Try serving it with Holiday Stuffing with Country Classic Sausage.