Despite growing up in the Midwest, I was not familiar with Ham Salad until quite recently. And I’ll admit, I wasn’t totally sold on the idea of it at first. I love ham and I’m a big fan of similar dishes like tuna salad or egg salad, so I really don’t know where my opposition stemmed from. But with all the rave reviews out there, I decided I better at least give Ham Salad a shot! And oh boy, am I glad I did.
The perfect balance of sweet and savory with tangy relish in every spoonful, it was truly love at first bite. Now I’m just kicking myself for not trying it sooner! If you’re like me and have some hesitations about this retro recipe, let me assure it… it’s absolutely worth a try!
The recipe originally came about as an easy way to repurpose leftover ham. It’s a great option for the day after Christmas, Easter, or any occasion where you’re cooking up a full ham! If you catch a craving for ham salad and don’t have leftovers on hand, the deli selection of your local grocery will likely be able to provide you with some thicker cut ham slices. You’re looking for good hearty slabs here and not the thin-cut lunch meat style to get the desired texture once it’s ground. Traditional recipes differ, but the addition of a hard-boiled egg and some sweet relish really put the flavor over the top in the recipe we have for you today.
Spread the salad on crackers or make yourself an indulgent sandwich, this stuff is delicious no matter how you serve it. It’s an easy recipe to customize to your liking. Feel free to spice it up, use a different kind of mustard, or swap in miracle whip for a sweeter taste. This vintage salad recipe is absolutely worth a shot. Whip up a batch next time you have leftover ham and you just might fall in love with it like I did!
Ingredients
1.5 lbs thick slab ham, fully cooked and roughly chopped
1 large hard boiled egg
½ cup celery, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon white onion, finely diced
⅔ cup mayo
3 tablespoons sweet relish
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
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