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Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Mary's Pineapple Raisin Sauce for Ham

Serving ham at your next family gathering? Then this Pineapple Raisin Sauce for Ham needs a place at your table! It is delicious and so easy to make using basic pantry ingredients. You are going to want to make this!



From memories to a written recipe.

Like many of the foods cooked and served in my childhood home, my Mom did not use a recipe. She was well known around our family table for her creative skills. She was also my first example of cooking "by the seat of my pants!". And more importantly, she cooked with what was in the pantry. Rarely did we make a trip to the store for a missing ingredient. 

In my memories you can't have ham without this sauce!

I remember this sauce vividly. It was served with every baked ham dinner we enjoyed. Without an actual recipe, only the want of eating it again, I felt I could recreate it in my own kitchen, I had eaten it so many times through the years. I knew it started with a can of crushed pineapple, including the juice or back then, most likely syrup. Then a big handful of raisins, some brown sugar, and a bit of apple cider vinegar. Simply simmered and thickened before serving. 

While I had no idea of the cooking time, I did have a clue, the raisins!

Thinking back, I remember that the raisins were tender, not chewy. And I remember this part very well, she only used a dash of cloves. I can still see the little red and white tin of ground cloves in Mom's hand, and a quick downward shake to get just a “dash” to come out. With the exception of the raisins, I imagine that the order of ingredients does not matter. But for tender raisins, my first guess was ten minutes simmer time was needed. 


Today a quick google for pineapple raisin sauce for ham produced 6,350,000 results. I was surprised at that number, but then again we enjoyed it with our ham dinner. And with those numbers, it appears that a lot of folks eat Pineapple Raisin Sauce with their Ham. 

And even on the first try, it was just as good! 

Once I had finished making this recipe for Pineapple Raisin Sauce for Ham in my own kitchen, I had to smile, it was, just like my Moms! A day in this kitchen recreating my childhood favorites and coming up with a recipe for future use, is always a good day! I think you are going to like this one...

One additional thought on this recipe!


From time to time I have had trouble finding the needed 8oz. can of crushed pineapple. This is easily solved by purchasing the larger can, which is usually available and measuring out the needed once cup of fruit for Mary's Pineapple Raisin Sauce for Ham. We then use the remainder of the can for other enjoyable uses, such as over cottage cheese or tucked into a muffin recipe. Happy cooking, and I think you will enjoy this sauce with your next Ham dinner!


Ingredients needed for this recipe:
  • raisins
  • pineapple, 8 oz. juice pack
  • cider vinegar
  • brown sugar, our recipe can be found here.
  • cloves
  • corn starch or arrowroot powder
You will also need the following:
  • small saucepan
  • measuring cup
  • measuring spoon
Now we are ready to begin!


Mary's Pineapple Raisin Sauce for Ham

Mary’s Pineapple Raisin Sauce for Ham
recreated from memory, and my mother, Mary.
Updated: 11.16.2022

1 c raisins
1 c water
dash of salt

1 8 oz. can of juice packed, crushed pineapple – do not drain
1 T cider vinegar
1/3  – 1/2 c brown sugar ( if you like a sweeter sauce, use the full measure)
dash of cloves

1/4 c water
1 T and 1 t corn starch or arrowroot powder 

Place raisins and water in a medium-size saucepan, cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the crushed pineapple along with the juice, vinegar, brown sugar, and cloves, return to a simmer. 

Let simmer while making the slurry.



Combine the cornstarch and water, stirring until smooth. Pour into the simmering fruit in a thin stream, stirring continuously. 

Cook, until the mixture, is thickened and transparent. If not serving right away, cover with a lid so a skin will not form on top of the sauce. 

Serve with baked ham.

Storage options for Mary's Pineapple Raisin Sauce for Ham. If you have leftovers, store covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. Heat gently on the stove or microwave (adding a small amount of water if needed) until warm, and serve. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.


UPDATE:  For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Mary's Pineapple Raisin Sauce for Ham has been included below. 

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This recipe featured at:
Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household is a featured blogger at AprilJHarris.com
Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household featured at Hearth and Soul Link-up!

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Printable "copy and paste" version:


Mary’s Pineapple Raisin Sauce for Ham
recreated from memory, and my mother, Mary.

1 c raisins
1 c water
dash of salt

1 8 oz. can of juice packed, crushed pineapple – do not drain
1 T cider vinegar
1/3  – 1/2 c brown sugar ( if you like a sweeter sauce, use the full measure)
dash of cloves

1/4 c water
1 T and 1 t corn starch or arrowroot powder 

Place raisins and water in a medium-size saucepan, cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the crushed pineapple along with the juice, vinegar, brown sugar, and cloves, return to a simmer. 

Let simmer while making the slurry.

Cook, until the mixture, is thickened and transparent. If not serving right away, cover with a lid so a skin will not form on top of the sauce. 

Cook, until the mixture, is thickened and transparent.

Serve with baked ham.

Storage options for Mary's Pineapple Raisin Sauce for Ham. If you have leftovers, store covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. Heat gently on the stove or microwave (adding a small amount of water if needed) until warm, and serve. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

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Would you like to comment?

  1. I would truly love this, unfortunately, I have a family who doesn't like raisins, I don't get it! I love them any way, right out of the box, in oatmeal, and esp. in a sauce like this for ham. It would be soooo good for our Easter ham!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love hem too! I do understand, our Son in Law is NOT a raisin fan....

      Delete
  2. This sounds like such a delicious sauce, Melynda! You know how passionate I am about family food history and I love how you made this recipe based on your memories of it. I'm lucky to have a lot of handwritten recipes from my late Mom and Grandmother but it's the recipes we try to bring back from memory that offer the greatest challenges - and hopefully great reward as well! Thank you so much for bringing this post to the Hearth and Soul Link Party and for being a part of the H&S community. I’m featuring this post at the party this week. Hope to ‘see’ you there. Wishing you a safe and healthy week.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so happy to have this recipe, I will love this sauce with my ham! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,475 your post looks great. Happy St. Patrick's Day and come back to see us soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds yummy! Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 11, open April 1 to 26. All entries shared on social media if share buttons installed. I’d like to invite you to check out my other current link parties too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up with me at #AThemedLinkup 33 for Thanksgiving Recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. Hope you have a fabulous week.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My mother’s recipe for a slice of ham (to feed the family for just one meal) was like this, except that she used canned pineapple slices. It must have been a very popular way to serve ham back then.

    best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ham and pineapple seem like a natural pairing, they pretty much are in our household.

      Delete
  8. This something new to me. My husband loves pineapple and ham -- so I may just have to give this a try.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for sharing at the Lazy Gastronome's What's for Dinner party! Have a fantastic week.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Do you know if you can water bath can this sauce?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do not believe this would be a recommended practice, due to the cornstarch in the recipe.

      Delete
  11. Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up at Food Friday 8 for Thanksgiving Recipes. Shared.

    ReplyDelete

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