Ingredients

For the Gammon

• 2 kg unsmoked boneless gammon joint
• 2 litres full sugar cola - diet will not work
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1 onion, peeled and quartered
• 1 stick celery, chopped
• 1 star anise
• 2 cloves
• 1 tsp black pepper corns
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf

For the Glaze

• 100 ml maple syrup
• 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
• 1 tbsp cider wine vinegar
• pinch of  five-spice powder

Method

1. Put the gammon, vegetables and spices in a  large pan and pour in the cola. If the meat is not covered by the liquid, top up the pan with water until it is covered.
2. Put the pan on the hob and bring it to a boil. Turn it down to a simmer, cover the pan and cook for  2 hours.
3. Check the pan occasionally, and if necessary top up with boiling water to ensure that the joint remains covered throughout the cooking.
4. After 2 hours remove the gammon from the pan and place it on a dish until it is cool enough to handle.
5. When it is cool enough to touch, use a sharp knife to carefully remove the skin, and most of the fat. Leave a thin layer of fat on top of the joint.
6. Heat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/375°F.
7. Put the gammon joint in a roasting tray, fat side up, and carefully score the fat into a diamond pattern.
8. Mix up the glaze, and pour half of the mixture over the joint, ensuring all the fat has a coating.
9. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes.
10. Remove from the oven, pour the remaining half of the glaze over  the joint and return to the oven for a further 30 minutes.
11. Delicious served hot from the oven, or cold  with salad or in sandwiches.