Ham Balls with Honey Bourbon Sauce

By lorik

Have no fear if the mixture seems wet — that’s what makes the ham balls
super moist. For tender ham balls, be sure to use a gentle hand.

Ingredients

• FOR THE HAM BALLS, PULSE:
• 1 lb. cubed cooked ham
• 1/2 a small onion
• ADD:
• 8 oz. ground pork
• 1 cup fresh bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 Tbsp. bourbon
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• FOR THE SAUCE, SIMMER:
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup each bourbon, honey, and white wine vinegar
• 3/4 tsp. dry mustard
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp. each ground cloves and cayenne pepper

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 300°.

For the ham balls, pulse ham and onion in a food processor until coarsely ground; transfer to a bowl. Add pork, bread crumbs, milk,
egg, 2 Tbsp. bourbon, and black pepper; mix just until combined.
Form meat mixture into eight balls and place on a baking sheet.

For the sauce, simmer brown sugar, 1/3 cup bourbon, honey, vinegar, mustard, ginger, cloves, and cayenne in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup sauce, then pour remaining over ham balls. Bake ham balls 1 hour, basting every 15 minutes with sauce from bottom of baking sheet.

Simmer reserved sauce until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes; serve with ham balls.

Per ham ball: 314 cal; 5g total fat (2g sat); 67mg chol; 792mg sodium; 43g carb; 0g fiber; 19g protein