This slow cooker gammon in coke is the easiest roast I have ever made. And it is delicious! It's incredibly tender and somehow always ends up perfect. This is the recipe I always recommend to people if they are about to make their first ever roast. There is no way you can mess this up, and a great dinner is almost guaranteed.
Few things are more British than a roast dinner, and gammon is one of the most popular meats to roast. Gammon is maybe most associated with a Sunday or Christmas dinner. However, with this quick and easy recipe, we're bringing gammon to the table on busy weeknights too!
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What you need to slow cook gammon in coke
- Gammon joint
- Coke or diet coke
- A slow cooker
How do you make this recipe
This recipe honestly could not be easier. You add the gammon joint to the slow cooker. Fill it with coke until the gammon is fully, but barely submerged. Set the slow cooker to low, and leave it for 7-10 hours. Then, lift the roast out of the coke. Leave it to cool for about 5 minutes, then carve and serve. Optionally, you can add a sauce or glaze on top of the finished roast, and bake it in the oven for about 20 minutes. This roast is really easy to make, and because of the nature of the slow cooker, it's basically fail proof.
The most important part of the roasting process is to make sure that the roast has cooked all the way through. As long as the slow cooker is left with the lid on, it should be ready to eat after about 7 hours. I usually leave it for 9-10 hours, however, which means I put it on in the morning, go to work, and come home to roasted gammon. If you want to make sure that it's definitely cooked, you can check with a meat thermometer. When the middle of the roast has reached 62°C, it is safe to eat.
What does gammon in coke taste like?
Boiling gammon in coke might seem a bit strange, but it honestly tastes lovely. The result doesn't really taste sweet as you might expect. As coke is slightly acidic, it balances the flavor of the gammon and helps bring out its natural flavors. It simply enhances the gammon taste. It also helps the meat break down and results in very tender meat.
If you like the idea of a sweet tasting gammon, you can always boil the coke down to a glaze when the roast has finished cooking. Then you can spread the glaze on the roast, and bake in the oven for a few minutes to give the gammon a proper coke flavor. You can also simply discard the liquid, and serve the gammon with traditional gravy instead.
Can you cook gammon in diet coke?
Yes. For the purpose of this recipe, feel free to use diet coke in place of sugary coke. Any brand of coke will also work. You're mainly adding the coke for its acidity, which means that the flavor of the coke does not matter much. Use whatever brand you have at hand, as you won't be able to tell any difference in this recipe.
Which side dishes go well with this gammon in coke slow cooker recipe?
For this gammon in coke recipe, use your favorite roast sides. I often serve mine with au gratin potatoes, roast vegetables and a yorkshire pudding. A hearty salad, like this Halloumi and butternut squash salad or Sweet potato chickpea salad with kale and walnuts are great options. I can also recommend these Cinnamon brown sugar carrots, which incorporates more sweetness in the dish. Other great vegetable options are Garlic roasted asparagus or Garlic butter sesame instant pot green beans.
Tips and substitutions
Gammon - For this recipe any regular size gammon joint works. Just make sure that the joint is fully submerged in the liquid. I prefer to use a gammon cut that doesn't have any pork rind for this recipe. As we are fully boiling this roast, and not actually roasting it, there won't be any crackling, and boiled fat isn't particularly pleasant to eat. Some supermarkets sell round chunks of meat marked gammon joints, which are pieces of gammon meat pressed together rather than an actual joint. They are perfect for this recipe! As a bonus, gammon is a lot healthier and lower in calories without all that fat!
Coke - You can use any brand of coke for this recipe. As the coke is only there to enhance the gammon flavor, use whichever brand you have at hand. I usually just buy a cheap version. You can't really tell the difference. If you're not a fan of coke, you could also try making this with any other soda. I have heard using orange soda is a great option!
Serving size - Estimate 150-170 g of gammon per serving. Keep this in mind when selecting your gammon joint at the store.
Recipe
Slow cooker gammon in coke
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 gammon joint
- 1-2 l coke
Instructions
- Add the gammon joint to a slow cooker.
- Fill the slow cooker with coke until the entire joint is fully, but barely, submerged. The liquid should just reach above the top of the joint.
- Set the slow cooker to low, and leave for 7-10 hours.
- When ready to eat, lift the gammon out of the slow cooker. Leave it to cool down for 5 minutes, then carve and serve.
Brian Jones
Oh man, so easy, simple and delicious.... Love it!
Tonje
Exactly! Glad you like it!
Amy | The Cook Report
I love gammon and this version sounds amazing!
Tonje
Thank you! 🙂
Jacqueline Debono
I love gammon but have never tried it cooked in coke! Sounds interesting! Def want to give this gammon recipe a try. It looks delicious!
Tonje
You absolutely should, it's great! Enjoy 🙂
Cathy
Wow I so want to make this recipe tonight!!! How could a recipe so simply made taste so amazing! Cannot wait to make this!
Tonje
Delish doesn't mean difficult! Enjoy 🙂
Tatiana
This is MY kind of meal. Coke coke coke- yum! ? I need to cook gammon in my slow cooker.
Tonje
You definitely do! It's sooo good!
Sandra Bozell
What is gammon joint. I have never heard of this Is it a meat or vegetable. Thank you.
Tonje
Gammon is a cured and uncooked ham, so it is definitely meat! In the UK we only use the word ham when the meat is cooked, otherwise we call it gammon. In most other countries, they just call it all ham, so that might be what you are used to! 🙂
Paul
Any ideas on what to do with the left over liquid?
Tonje
Hi Paul,
I usually discard the liquid as it's too salty for my taste. You could try to boil it in a pot until it reduces to a thick glaze maybe? Let me know how it turns out if you try it!
Anonymous
Came out great. I put my joint in water overnight, and it definitely made it less salty.
Nev
Can you a joint in milk
Tonje
Hi Nev! I have never tried to cook gammon in milk, but I'm not sure it would taste particularly nice. I think water would be a better option if you don't have cola.