Take a stroll down memory lane and use up the leftover holiday ham. Old-fashioned ham salad is a delicious way to reinvent your ham leftovers into a wonderful, vintage appetizer or sandwich spread.
I like to use the salad as a sandwich filling on sweet Hawaiian rolls. Warm, vinegary German Potato Salad goes great. The sharp tang of the vinegar pairs nicely with the creamy, salty ham salad. A pineapple upside-down cake for dessert completes this vintage meal.
Old Fashioned Ham Salad
Growing up in Pittsburgh, there was a Christmas tradition of a big glazed ham for dinner and then a week’s worth (if we were lucky) of ham salad. I adored the creamy, slightly spicy concoction on crackers, in celery, on an apple, or in a sandwich. It was delicious and very different from the taste of the Christmas ham, so I never tired of it. Mom’s ham salad always went quickly, leaving someone (I’m talking to you, brother) perturbed that they didn’t get the last tablespoonful.
What Is Ham Salad?
This dish seems to be a favorite in the Midwest, although it’s also a big deal in Pittsburgh. It is similar to chicken or tuna salad but uses cooked ham as the protein.
Ingredients Needed
- Hard-boiled egg – separate the white from the cooked yolk. The yolk will be mixed into the mayonnaise.
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish – I like to squeeze out any excess liquid before using the relish.
- Whole grain mustard
- Leftover ham
- Celery
- Green onions
- Salt and pepper
- Crackers or buns for serving
Steps To Make This Recipe
- Chop the ham into a very small dice.
- Chop the celery, onions, and egg white into a small dice and toss with the ham.
- Mash the egg yolk into the mayonnaise, mix in the mustard, and relish.
- Fold the mayonnaise into the chopped ham mixture.
- Chill and enjoy.
How To Store Your Old Fashioned Ham Salad
Package your leftover salad in a bowl with a tight-fitting lid. Store it in your fridge for up to 5 days. The salad doesn’t freeze well because of the mayonnaise, so discard any leftover salad after 5 days.
More Salad Recipes To Try
PrintOld Fashioned Ham Salad
Take a stroll down memory lane and use up the leftover holiday ham. Old-fashioned ham salad is a delicious way to reinvent your ham leftovers into a wonderful, vintage appetizer or sandwich spread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chilling time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 15 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish – Pork
- Method: Toss
- Cuisine: Vintage
Ingredients
1 hard-boiled egg, egg and yolk separated
¾ cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
3 cups leftover ham, finely minced
1 stalk celery, finely minced
2 teaspoons minced green onion, white part only
Salt and pepper to taste
Crackers for serving
Instructions
Mash the egg yolk with the mayonnaise in a medium bowl until well incorporated. Stir in the relish and mustard.
In a large bowl, toss the ham, celery, green onion, and chopped egg white until combined.
Fold in the mayonnaise mixture until it all gets evenly combined.
Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
Cover the mixture and chill for at least 2 hours.
Serve cold with crackers or as a sandwich filling.
Keywords: old fashioned ham salad, ham salad recipes, vintage recipes, grandma’s recipes, recipes for leftover ham, leftover reinventions, sandwich fillings, leftover ham