This recipe creates a flavorful and creamy ham salad, perfect for sandwiches, crackers, or as a topping for lettuce wraps. It’s a simple way to use leftover ham, combining it with mayonnaise, celery, onion, and often hard-boiled eggs for a satisfying and easy dish.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked ham, finely diced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion (or yellow onion)
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sweet pickle relish (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
- Optional: 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or chives
Instructions:
- Prepare Ingredients: Finely dice the cooked ham. Finely chop the celery and red onion. Peel and chop the hard-boiled eggs.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the diced ham, mayonnaise, chopped celery, chopped red onion, and chopped hard-boiled eggs.
- Add Flavorings: Stir in the Dijon mustard and sweet pickle relish (if using). Season with black pepper. If desired, add chopped fresh parsley or chives.
- Mix Well: Gently stir all the ingredients together until everything is well combined and the salad reaches your desired consistency. You can add a little more mayonnaise if you prefer a creamier salad.
- Chill (Recommended): Cover the bowl and refrigerate the ham salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Chilling also helps the salad firm up slightly.
- Serve: Serve the ham salad on bread or rolls for sandwiches, with crackers for dipping, or as a topping for lettuce cups or salads.
Tips and Notes:
- Ham Preparation: You can also pulse the ham in a food processor for a finer texture, but be careful not to over-process it into a paste.
- Vegetable Variations: Feel free to add other finely chopped vegetables like bell peppers or cucumber for extra crunch and flavor.
- Sweetness Adjustment: If you don’t have sweet pickle relish, you can add a pinch of sugar or a little finely chopped sweet pickle.
- Spice Level: Add a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little heat.
- Herb Variations: Use other fresh herbs like dill or tarragon for a different flavor profile.
- Make Ahead: Ham salad can be made up to 2-3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Serving Suggestions: Consider adding a slice of cheese or lettuce to your ham salad sandwiches.
Enjoy this classic and easy ham salad!