Spiced Ham-Free Glaze (Printable Version)
A flavorful spiced glaze with maple syrup, citrus, and warm spices, perfect for glazing plant-based dishes.
# What You Need:
→ Wet Ingredients
01 - 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
02 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
03 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
04 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
05 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari (gluten-free option)
→ Sweeteners
06 - 1/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
→ Spices
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
→ Aromatics
12 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
13 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
# How to Make It:
01 - In a small saucepan, whisk together maple syrup, orange juice, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce or tamari, and brown sugar until fully blended.
02 - Incorporate cinnamon, cloves, allspice, black pepper, smoked paprika (if using), grated ginger, and minced garlic, stirring to combine evenly.
03 - Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
04 - Allow the glaze to simmer for 7 to 10 minutes until slightly thickened and aromatic, stirring occasionally.
05 - Remove from heat. Apply immediately to your roast or let cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for last-minute dinner party preparations
- The maple and spices create an impossibly complex flavor that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen
- This glaze transforms simple plant-based proteins into something spectacular enough to steal the show at any table
02 -
- Don't let the glaze simmer more than 10 minutes unless you want it thicker—it will continue to thicken as it cools, and an over-reduced glaze becomes cloyingly sweet and loses its delicate balance
- Stir frequently during simmering to prevent the bottom from catching and burning, which will add a bitter note that's hard to recover from
- Fresh ginger and garlic make an enormous difference here—powdered versions will give you a flatter, more one-dimensional glaze that won't have the same living quality
03 -
- For a more citrusy version, add 1 teaspoon of grated orange zest at the very end—the zest will float beautifully and add bright bursts of flavor
- If you want heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a tiny shake of chili flakes, stirring them in before simmering so they bloom and integrate fully into the glaze