Eight To Order: The Best of Adelaide’s Christmas Hams

It’s arguably too hot for a traditional Christmas pudding or pumpkin pie during the Australian summer. But a massive ham on the bone? That we can do. Glazed, smoked, baked – here are some of Adelaide’s must-buy hams.

Ellis Butchers

This McLaren Vale butcher supplies top restaurants all around the Fleurieu, including d’Arry’s Verandah, The Salopian Inn, The Maxwell Restaurant, The Currant Shed, The Victory Hotel and more. It’s best known for its dry-aged beef, but it also produces bacon and ham smoked using beechwood and red gum. This year it’s doing South Aussie pork legs supplied by local wholesaler O’Brien’s.

The hams are $21.95 a kilo for a bone-in leg, or $33.95 for boneless. Order in-store or via phone on (08) 8323 8230.

Marino Meat and Food Store

The third-generation, family-run Marino Meat and Food Store has a few Christmas-exclusive options supplied by Barossa Fine Foods, including an oven-roasted maple and orange ham for $79.72; a portion of ham double-smoked with real wood chips ($68.72); a maple, honey and cinnamon-glazed roasted ham loin ($27.99); and a free-range ham on the bone at $131.95 for a half ham, or $209.91 for a full one. It’s all prepared in-house at its facility in Croydon Park and delivered to the Central Market store.

Marino’s hams are available at its Central Market store.

Barossa Fine Foods

One of Adelaide’s favourite butchers – situated in Central Market and in several other locations – Barossa Fine Foods has plenty of options for you and the crew this Christmas. Its award-winning full or half leg of SA ham on the bone comes double-smoked with beechwood chips and is going for $17.99 per kilo (or $23.99 per kilo for a free-range version). You can also order roasted pork loin glazed with maple, honey and cinnamon ($27.99 per kilo); a mini smoked leg ham coated in onion and garlic ($28.99 per kilo); and a selection of “heat and eat roasts” – ideal for hosts who aren’t used to cooking for a crowd. Choices include a turducken with dried cranberry and apple stuffing, a porchetta and more. All you need to do is heat them up.

Orders must be placed by December 11. View the full catalogue and place your order here.

O’Connell’s Meats

The Adelaide Central Market stall is selling South Australian female leg ham on the bone – smoked on-site daily – in sizes ranging from three kilograms to 12 kilograms (they can also be cut to size). Choose between a traditional smoked ham, a double-smoked one, a maple-glazed ham and more. And if you’re looking for ideas to make your ham extra special, the team has tips and recipes to create the perfect glazed ham at home.

Bone-in leg hams are available for $14 per kilogram; boneless costs $20 per kilogram. Pop into the market to get yours.

Something Wild

Central Market’s native food purveyor – these days majority-owned and managed by ex-Port Adelaide player Daniel Motlop – has been introducing Adelaide residents to magpie goose, camel, green ants and more for many years. And you can expect an equally Aussie flavour for its Christmas ham: wild boar smoked a few stalls down at neighbouring O’Connell’s Meats.

Something Wild is selling them whole and boneless in-store. The price is $32 per kilogram.

Bos Taurus Butchery

Norwood’s Bos Taurus Butchery is keeping it simple: just South Australian free-range ham smoked over beechwood. This ham is ideal if you’ve already got a recipe in mind, but if you don’t, Bos Taurus is selling organic jams and mustards that complement it.

A whole ham on the bone is $19.99 per kilo; a half ham on the bone is $20.99 per kilo. A boneless leg ham is $25.99 per kilo. Orders close December 17, with main pick-up dates being December 22, 23 and 24. Orders are taken in-store. Email info@btbutchery.com or call (08) 7130 0213 for more details. Find out more.

Saint Meat

Here’s another award-winning Christmas ham , this time from Saint Meat. It hasn’t messed with the formula that’s served it well for so long: hickory-smoked leg ham, half or whole, on the bone or without. You don’t need to do much to make this ham sing.

A traditional leg of ham is $14.99 per kilo, while boneless leg ham is $24.99 a kilo. Order online for pick-up or delivery.

Windsor Meats

Malvern’s Windsor Meats has award-winning Christmas hams back on the menu this year. The red gum-smoked hams are available by the half or whole, on the bone or boneless.

See the full Christmas menu online and in-store at 61 Duthy Street. For more information, phone (08) 8272 9777.

This article was first published in December 2020. It has been updated in 2024 to reflect new information and remove out-of-date details.