Is Southern Maryland Stuffed Ham Worth The Hype?: A Non-Local’s First Impression

CALIFORNIA, Md. — Stuffed ham is ubiquitous and known to most residents of Southern Maryland. There’s even a recipe for it on the official Maryland Office of Tourism website. And as someone who grew up in Texas — a place where the rodeo is like a second Christmas and the fried Oreo is considered a delicacy — the thought of stuffed ham sounds like something out of a Hallmark movie.

Usually, it’s right around the holidays when we hear the lore of the stuffed ham be spoken into existence. And although I’ve been here for almost four years, this piece of Southern Maryland culture seems to have evaded me thus far. So as a non-native resident, I’ve set myself on a cultural journey to find out its history, where the best place to get some is, and if it lives up to the hype.

A Brief History On Stuffed Ham

Finding out exactly how stuffed ham came about and became a tradition is a bit tricky, because as you might imagine, not many historians are itching to find out its origins. But luckily for us, there were a few writers who had that very same question. One of them was a writer here at The BayNet, and if you really want a more in-depth view of its history, we highly encourage you to check out the article: Stuffed Ham’s Origin Is a Mystery, But It’s Exclusive to Region.

But in short, historians and food writers suggest the dish may have roots in the cooking traditions of enslaved people in the region, possibly influenced by Caribbean foodways. However, like many regional dishes passed down through families, its exact origins remain uncertain. The earliest mentions of stuffed meat in the regional area can be found in a book entitled “The Virginia House-Wife” by Mary Randolph, written in 1824 and first published in Baltimore. But to be clear, the book gives no mention of an actual recipe for stuffed ham. It just demonstrates that stuffing meats with herbs and greens was already a common culinary practice in the Chesapeake region. And of course, there are a plethora of modern books and recipes that you can find online about stuffed ham.

Where To Get Stuffed Ham

My plan was to do a quick Google search and pick a place to get some stuffed ham. The results showed that there were a variety of places to get it around the Southern Maryland area. The most popular places being WJ Dent & Sons/Chief’s Bar — a restaurant/historic bar that has been operating since 1927 — and Chaptico Market & Deli, a market renowned for its fried chicken. As I pondered where to go, I decided a break was in order and saddled the dog up for a walk; she was quite enthusiastic about it.

On my walk, I got the chance to speak to one of my neighbors and naturally, the subject of what I was writing about came up. A large grin came over his face and before I knew it, I had a Tupperware in my hands with stuffed ham inside. It was just like the pictures I had seen online — thin slices of ham covered in greens. My dog raised her snout in the air, wagging her tail, as if she knew what was inside. I thanked my neighbor, but he waved his hand.

“You’re actually doing me a favor,” he said with a laugh.

According to him, his family always makes too much and they can only eat it for so long.

It was a curious feeling looking at the Tupperware and the contents inside as I sat at my kitchen table. I hadn’t dared to open it yet. I just wanted to look at it. It’s difficult to describe what I was feeling, but if I had to describe it, I think I would say it was awe. The stuffed ham had taken on this larger-than-life persona in my mind. I know that sounds silly — after all, it’s stuffed ham, it’s just food. But after hearing about it so much and reading through old cookbooks, history books and journals, here it was. Sitting at my table, enclosed in clear Tupperware. Hundreds of years of history, its origins a mystery.

I clicked open the Tupperware. Pictures of a sarcophagus being opened floated in my mind, and the smell definitely reinforced that image. It was certainly pungent — something I had not anticipated — but it immediately made sense, given that I had never been a fan of the smell of cooked cabbage. My hands trembled a little bit as I lifted the fork to my mouth and took my first bite. I had arrived at my destination and I have to say, it wasn’t bad, but I didn’t think it was the greatest either — it was just okay. As I sat there chewing, I reflected on the cultural journey I had just walked and gathered my thoughts on what I learned along the way.

Final Words Of A Wayward Texan

Stuffed ham is special, but not because it tastes particularly good.

What makes it great is the sense of identity it creates. It’s a tradition that persists and reminds us all of Maryland. Because you will rarely find it outside of Maryland. And I’m sure that everyone who’s grown up here or even lived here can remember a story around it. There’s something comforting in knowing that it’s been around so long — knowing that your children will eat it and their children will too, and one day squint their noses at its pungent smell too.

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