Recipe Background
Leftover Ham Salad blends creamy, tangy, and crisp flavors for a satisfying dish.
Leftover Ham Salad transforms that holiday ham into a remarkable medley of flavors and textures. The salty richness of the ham mingles delightfully with tangy whole-grain mustard, offering a sharp contrast to the sweet crunch of bread-and-butter pickles. Chopping these components into uniform pieces is key—aim for finely chopped but not puréed. This size captures the perfect balance of texture, ensuring every bite carries a bit of everything.
Aromas of celery and red onion rise as you mix, bringing a fresh, crisp perfume to the air. The vibrancy of these additions cuts through the creamy blend of mayonnaise, lightening each mouthful. Whether spooned onto hearty bread for a sandwich or enjoyed on its own, each bite delivers a satisfying contrast—rich yet refreshingly crisp, with just a whisper of sweetness from reserved pickle juice.
Sharing this dish with older family members often brings fond memories of traditional picnics and cold lunch spreads. It’s a moment to savor simplicity with an elegant twist. As plates are passed around, each person finds a favorite element. Some may revel in the mustard’s bite, others in the delicate crunch of celery. This salad, whether part of a casual lunch or a nostalgic gathering, turns leftovers into a centerpiece.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
- 1 pound leftover baked ham cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 1/4 cups bread-and-butter pickle chips drained with 1 tablespoon of the juices reserved
- 2 inner ribs celery finely chopped, plus 2 tablespoons leaves from the inner ribs, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 small red onion finely chopped
- bread slices to taste
Directions
- In a large bowl, whisk the mayonnaise and the mustard together.
- In the bowl of a food processor, add the ham and the pickles and pulse until they are finely chopped, but not puréed.
- Add the ham mixture, the pickle juice, the celery, the celery leaves, and the onions to the mayonnaise mixture and stir to combine.
- Serve the ham salad as a sandwich on the bread slices.
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