This classic ham salad recipe is easy and quick to put together, seriously tasty, and packed with delicious flavors. With a handful of kitchen and fridge staples, make this easy ham salad in the comfort of your home.
It is also a great way to use up that holiday leftover ham, that said, you can enjoy this salad any time of the year.
Easy homemade ham salad recipe
Ham salad is delicious and has multiple health benefits with great taste, that's why it is not only popular among adults but also children.
This Anglo-American traditional salad recipe is versatile, and more importantly, it is easy to put together. All the ingredients are easily available in stores and more likely in your kitchen or fridge already.
Ham salad just doesn’t make a great sandwich spread, it is perfect for entertaining as a dip for appetizers. I like to serve it both ways and my family enjoys it too, especially when served as a panini
This is a quick recipe and even quicker if you own a food processor. There are many versions of homemade recipes. It is a simple recipe that you can’t go wrong with.
This recipe is
- Low-carb and low in calories if you swap serving it with bread with cucumber cups or zucchini slices or rice crackers.
- Dairy-free
- Gluten-free
- Nut-free
What is ham salad?
Ham salad is an Anglo-American salad that is similar to chicken or tuna salad using similar ingredients but a different choice of protein. With the recipe varying from kitchen to kitchen, it is easily customizable to taste but utterly delicious
Related post: fancy serving today's recipe as a sandwich filling, then you will also love my classic cheese and onion sandwich recipe, do check it out.
Ham Salad Ingredients
Cooked ham
Onions
Sweet pickle relish
Celery
Boiled eggs
Salt and black pepper
Mayonnaise
Hot sauce
Dijon Mustard
Lemon juice
How to make ham salad
To a food processor, combine ham, boiled eggs, and pulse for a few seconds to roughly chop.
Transfer the content to a large mixing bowl then add mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, black pepper, a pinch of salt, finely chopped celery, and onion, and stir to combine.
Ham Salad Variations and tips
If you want to be creative then here are some options for variations on this simple Ham Salad Recipe
No food processor: if you do own a food processor, simply use a sharp knife to finely chop the ingredients and combine. This is perfect when you want to serve it with salad, the contrast of texture lift the dish beautifully.
Double or triple the recipe to accommodate however many people you are catering for
Use smoked ham: I am not sure the traditional recipe uses smoked ham but I can tell you if you tried this salad with smoked ham, you may never go back to plain ones again. You can also substitute the ham with bologna
Customize the recipe to taste: use more sweet pickle relish and yellow mustard to make the flavor stronger. Stretch the recipe further by adding more diced hard-boiled eggs, green onions, chopped bell peppers. You can also add some shredded cheddar or parmesan cheese.
Repurpose your ham leftover: blend the ham salad into paste consistency (pate-like) with a pickle juice, more mayonnaise, and serve it as a dip.
Ham and cheese: Mix your ham salad with some shredded cheddar cheese, to make a scrumptious lunch.
Make it a meal: Add some macaroni or other type of pasta with ham salad, put some chopped bell peppers or just make it your own.
Not a fan of boiled eggs, leave it out
FAQs
Do I have to use leftover ham?
No, you don’t have to. This recipe is just a great way to use up ant leftover holiday ham.
Is this ham salad recipe healthy?
Yes. It’s a healthy salad if consumed in moderation. The ingredients used are packed with great nutrients and low in carbs.
Can I freeze Ham salad?
No, you cannot freeze ham salad if you have added boiled eggs or mayonnaise in it. The mayonnaise will separate once thawed and the boiled eggs may change the texture of the salad.
How long can it be stored in the fridge?
Place the ham salad in an airtight container and you can store it in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
Can I use deli ham?
Yes. You can use deli ham if you want to. Just dice it finely and add it to the rest of the ingredients. You can use any of the following types of ham too, chopped, ground, canned, processed, or thick ham steaks, any kind of ham can be used, just make sure it is boneless.
What will be the best way to serve ham salad?
You can serve ham salad in a sandwich spread on rolls, wraps, baguette, biscuits, and also on. Serve as a low-carb option by serving it with cucumber or zucchini cups. It can also be served a dip with ritz crackers or any other types of crackers too.
More delicious easy and quick dip recipes
If you made this easy ham salad recipe, don’t forget to leave me feedback and rate it 5 stars. Tag us @cravingsmallbites on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest
Easy Ham Salad Recipe
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 lb (450g) cooked ham
- ⅓ cup finely onions
- 2 Tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- ½ cup finely chopped celery
- 1 Boiled eggs
- ½ Tablespoon hot sauce optional
- ½ teaspoon dijon Mustard
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice optional
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- To a food processor, combine ham, boiled eggs, and pulse for a few seconds to roughly chop.
- Transfer the content to a large mixing bowl then add mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, black pepper, pinch of salt, finely chopped celery, lemon juice, chopped onions and stir to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with crackers or as a sandwich filling.
Leave a Reply