Chef John's Honey-Glazed Ham

Ingredients

• 0.75 cups water , or as needed
• 2 whole star anise
• 12 whole cloves , or more to taste
• 1 country-style ham , 7 pound

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

2. 2

   Prepare ham: Add water, star anise, and cloves to the bottom of a roasting pan. Place a roasting rack into the pan; place ham on the rack. Cut 1/4-inch-deep slashes, 1/2-inch apart, lengthwise and crosswise across the top of ham.

3. 3

   Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

4. 4

   While ham is baking, make glaze: Whisk together brown sugar, honey, mustard, vinegar, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl until thick and smooth.

5. 5

   Brush glaze all over ham. Continue baking ham, brushing with glaze every 20 minutes, until glaze is deep golden and ham is heated through, about 2 hours 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of ham should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

6. 6

   Run a kitchen torch over ham until glaze is crispy and caramelized, 2 to 5 minutes.