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–+ servings
Creamy ham salad piled on red leaf lettuce greens with a fork on a white plate.
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Ham Salad

A fresh take on a classic ham salad, serve it in sandwiches, with crackers, piled on lettuce greens, or in lettuce cups. It makes a terrific and easy lunch or light dinner.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: lunch, Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 276kcal
Author: Sally Cameron

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound leftover holiday ham or ham steak
  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise plus a little more if needed
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped celery 1 small rib
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot 1 small
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cornichons or use dill pickle or pickle relish
  • 1 ½ tablespoons smooth Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice optional
  • 2 grinds black pepper optional

Instructions

Chop the ham

  • Cut the ham into small chunks, about ½- to ¾-inch, then add it to a food processor and quickly pulse 12–18 times to refine the texture. Do not purée. Leave some texture unless you want it very smooth, like a spread. See photo in post for help if needed.

Make the dressing

  • Add the mayonnaise, celery, shallot, cornichons, mustard and parsley to a medium bowl and blend until smooth.

Make the salad

  • Add the chopped ham and mix until evenly coated. Taste and add lemon juice ad pepper if desired.

Notes

Serving - Serve ham salad over lettuce greens, in lettuce cups, as a sandwich, or alone with crackers. Leftover keep up to 3-4 days when properly stored and refrigerated. Freezing is not recommended, as mayonnaise-based dressings separate and become watery upon thawing. 
Pickle options – Cornichons give the cleanest, brightest flavor, but finely chopped dill pickles work well too. If using dill pickles, blot or drain them first so the ham salad doesn’t get watery. Sweet pickle relish is a classic option if you prefer a sweeter, more nostalgic flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 1715mg | Potassium: 428mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 144IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg