When it’s late, and you’re hungry, you want something quick. This apple glazed ham steak delivers. And it’s still both delicious and filling.
It was customary, when I was little, to make ham with pineapple. That’s good, but I think this apple version is better. There’s an enzyme in pineapple that breaks down protein and tends to make it a bit mushy. Plus you have to get a good pineapple, wonder what to do with the rest of it, or settle for canned.
Apples on the other hand, add a touch of sweetness, plus a hint of tartness. It’s less overpoweringly sweet and it complements the salty ham better.
The other good thing about this recipe is that it’s fairly quick. Sauté the ham steak, set it aside, make the apple glaze, and you have dinner in about 15 minutes.
Score! There are more quick dinner recipes at the bottom of the post.
I made this with brandy, but if you don’t have that, apple cider will work too. For a more intense apple flavor, try it with apple brandy, such as Calvados, or a hard apple cider.
The Brussels sprouts, by the way, are tossed with some olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper and then roasted. My new favorite way to eat them!
Apple Glazed Ham Steak
Great for a quick fall meal, this glazed ham steak takes only a few minutes to make. Best with crispy apples.
Ingredients
- 1 slice ham steak
- 1 T butter
- 1 small apple, sliced
- pinch nutmeg
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 2 cloves
- 1/4 C brandy (or apple cider or apple brandy or a combination)
Instructions
- Put the ham steak in a frying pan large enough to hold it without crowding. Cook the ham until heated through (about five minutes per side). Remove and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the sliced apple and sauté them until slightly tender (about 5 minutes). Add nutmeg, brown sugar, cloves, and brandy (or cider or Calvados) and deglaze the pan (stir the sauce with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pan to incorporate the brown bits from the ham into the sauce). If this sauce is too thin, add a bit of flour or turn up the heat and cook for a few minutes until it thickens.
Apple Glazed Ham Steak Substitutions and Variations
- skip the cloves and add a bit of tangy mustard
- try some cinnamon
- sauté some sweet onions and include them in the sauce (Vidalia onions would work nicely for this)
- mix up the apples; I used Gala but Granny Smith would add a bit of extra tartness to the recipe and make a nice complement to the ham
- if you don’t have brandy, use Calvados, or apple cider
More Quick Dinner Recipes
Quick Creole Cabbage and Sausage
This is a great quick meal when you want food fairly quickly. It’s also pantry-friendly. Cabbage lasts a long time in the fridge and the spices are shelf-stable.
One Pot Polish Sausage and Cabbage with Potatoes
A few basic ingredients that are full of flavor. There are buttery potatoes, braised cabbage, and rich sausage. It’s all made in one pot too.
Cider Braised Pork Chop with Sauerkraut and Apples
Apples, pork, and sauerkraut complement each other beautifully. The salty kraut plays off against the sweet apples. This is a classic fall or chilly weather meal.
Pork Tenderloin with Mushrooms and Sour Cream
A rich, creamy sauce boosted by the bite of Dijon mustard and piquant capers —both of which complement the pork beautifully. And, it’s done in about twenty minutes or so. The mushrooms are also just about the only thing you have to chop.