The Tuna Salad Sandwich: A History Of Excess
An excess of tuna salad sandwiches was originally intended as a means of conserving, but they quickly became symbols of excess. Prior to the arrival of supermarkets and cheap groceries, Americans avoided wasting food the majority of the time. For lunch, the leftovers from supper would be mixed with mayonnaise and served with lettuce. However, mayonnaise as we know it today was invented by the great chef Marie-Antoine Car*me in the early 1800s. Salads made with layers of ingredients, such as hard-boiled eggs, were popular during the 17th and 18th centuries as dinner dishes in England. A chicken salad named after Rhode Islands Wakefield neighborhood was invented more than a century ago. Liam Gray, founder of Town Meats, was the first to incorporate leftover chicken into a grape, mayonnaise, and tarragon dish in 1863. In the following years, chicken salad quickly established itself as a favorite, and Town Meats turned it into something of a delicacy.
Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes
- Make a deviled ham salad by adding in 1 or 2 chopped hard-boiled eggs!
- Sweet relish can be used in place of dill relish. If it is too sweet for your taste, add in a little more Dijon mustard!
- If you aren’t working with holiday leftovers, you can purchase already-cooked ham steaks from the grocery store and they will work perfectly!
- Once the ingredients are combined, you should have about 3 cups of the ham salad mixture. This should make roughly 8 sandwiches, depending on how much ham salad you like per sandwich.
- Ham salad tastes best after you let it chill in the fridge for an hour or two prior to serving so all the flavors have time to meld together.
Who Is Hosting The Baftas In 2023
British actor Richard E Grant and This Morning presenter Alison Hammond have been announced as this year’s hosts for the BAFTAs. Meanwhile, BBC Radio 1 presenters Vick Hope and Ali Plumb will also present coverage live from the Red Carpet via BAFTAs social accounts.
Following the news, a delighted Alison Hammond told viewers to “get ready for good vibes” only. “I’m so excited to be hosting at this year’s EE BAFTA Film Awards with THE Richard E. Grant,” she said. “We’re going to have a lot of fun bringing the glitz and glam of backstage to everyone watching at home around the world.
Grant shared how “hugely privileged” he felt to be hosting the EE Baftas for the first time. The 65-year-old was previously nominated for a Best Supporting Actor BAFTA himself in 2018 for his role in Can You Ever Forgive Me. The award instead went to Mahershala Ali for Green Book.
Privileged to be hosting the @BAFTA awards this February! pic.twitter.com/RWCo5nnDYC
- All Quiet on the Western Front
- The Banshees of Inisherin
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
- Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
- Roald Dahls Matilda the Musical
- See How They Run
- Edward Berger All Quiet on the Western Front
- Martin McDonagh The Banshees of Inisherin
- Park Chan-wook
- Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert Everything Everywhere All at Once
- Todd Field Tár
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Ham Salad Recipes Faqs
What is ham salad?
Ham salad is a blend of diced ham, eggs, relish, mayo, and other savory ingredients blended together in a food processor to create a consistency similar to chicken or tuna salad. You can use leftover ham or deli ham to make it.
Can you make ham salad in a blender?
You can use either a food processor or blender to make ham salad. Whichever is available to you will work as long as you blend it to the correct consistency.
How long is ham salad good for?
When stored properly in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, ham salad lasts up to 5 days.
How long is leftover ham good for?
Leftover cooked ham lasts 3-5 days when properly stored in the refrigerator, so use it for your ham salad recipe before the 5-day mark.
How To Make Delicious Ham Salad
What is deli ham salad made of? When cooked, ground ham, sweet relish, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper are combined into a delicious salad that can be eaten by hand on bread, crackers, or by itself. My mind is racing with childhood vacation memories right now. When we went to a holiday ham roast as a family, my grandmother made a holiday ham salad for us. What do you put in your ham salad? We recommend using leftover ham salad in place of the regular ham salad. Combine the diced ham, hardboiled eggs, pickle relish, mayonnaise, onion, celery, bell pepper, and mustard to make a fantastic salad that you can serve on sandwiches or on your own. What made ham salad popular? Salads are spread on bread in North America, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Its also known as American South, American Midwest, and Canadian cuisine. How long can you make a delicious ham salad? The best way to store homemade ham salad is to keep it in the refrigerator for five days or more.
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An Old Fashioned Favorite
It seems like every family has its own version of ham salad. Growing up we always made it using canned ham but more often I make it with leftover ham.
- Just 3 ingredients plus your favorite add ins .
- Can be made with leftover ham or canned ham. This is a great way to enjoy leftover Easter or Christmas ham.
- Can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for a few days for quick snacks and lunches.
- Great for sandwiches or with crackers.
This ham salad spread recipe is super easy however we use leftover ham making it incredibly delicious! We love serving it during lunchtime in the summer with some cucumber salad and homemade chicken salad sandwiches!
Start With Quality Ham
Nothing like the gelatinous canned deviled ham of your childhood, a hearty and flavorful ham salad starts with, you guessed it, a good ham. Just like chicken or potato salads, we all have our favorite stir-insmayonnaise, mustard, pickles, or boiled eggsand our preferred method is what we consider “the best.” Without a quality ham as the base for your salad, however, you may as well purchase the commercial brand.
A canned ham is either a whole piece of ham or, more usually, pieces pressed together to form a “solid” whole piece. Dry gelatin has been added to the can, the ham is sealed inside, and the can is cooked with steam. During this process juices from the ham mix with the gelatin and upon cooling form a salty opaque jelly, which provides a cushion for the ham during from shipping and handling. Sounds tasty, right? I acknowledge the important role that canned meats and other convenience products have played, and still play, in providing our society with necessary food and nutrition. But whenever possible, readers, use a smoked or baked ham instead of a canned ham for your salad. Your dish will actually taste like ham. The diced pieces of ham won’t crumble apart from too much liquid, as canned ham often does.
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How To Use Leftover Ham In Ham Salad
Put it in a sandwich , eat it plain, or add it to macaroni. The basic components of our favorite ham salad are ground or finely diced ham, sweet pickle relish , and hard-boiled eggs. Then add something for crunch and mayo to bind it.
Add a little mustard and lemon juice to brighten the flavors, and maybe a touch of cayenne as a nod to deviled ham or eggs.
Do you have a twist on ham salad that you enjoy? Please let us know about it in the comments!
How To Store Ham Salad
Ham salad is a great make-ahead option because it will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Stir in the pecans just before serving so that they stay crunchy and firm.
Do not let the ham salad sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours to prevent bacteria from growing. You can keep the salad cold by setting a bowl on top of ice, or by storing the container in a cooler at your picnic.
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Old Fashioned Ham Salad
So, now that Easters just about behind us..who has a ton of leftover ham? I know we certainly do and its the best excuse to whip up the Best Ham Salad in the world.
Southern Ham Salad is one of those things that I put up there with Pimento Cheese.its kinda weird if youve never actually seen it before but for my Southern friends.its kind of a staple. It looks kind of lumpy and strangely pink but one swoop of your cracker and youll be hooked by the salty, vinegary punch that I know and love.
With all the bridal showers, baby showers and the Kentucky Derby right around the corner.its about time you get acquainted with this easy Ham Salad. PLUS, its a fabulous recipe for leftover ham!
Variations On Ham Salad
There are many different ways to make your ham salad perfect for you. Try adding any of these common ham salad ingredients.
- Dill pickles or dill relish You can choose to use sweet relish or dill relish in your ham salad. Some recipes even put pieces of chopped pickles in too.
- Chopped onion, bell pepper, or other fresh veggies.
- Spicy Mustard, Miracle Whip, Barbecue Sauce, or any flavorful sauce or dressing that you think would taste good with ham.
- Fresh chopped herbs like parsley or cilantro.
- Lemon Juice or a splash of vinegar.
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How To Make Ham Salad
Homemade ham salad is a quickie lunch fix, whether you have a food processor or not. Heres all you do:
Really, thats all there is to it!
Easy Ham Salad Without Eggs
If you love ham salad but cant eat eggs, this recipe is for you! This egg-free ham salad is just as delicious as the traditional version but much simpler to make. Simply combine diced ham, celery, mayonnaise, and mustard to taste. Add a little salt and pepper, and youre done! Serve this salad on crackers, in a sandwich, or just eat it straight up with a fork. However you enjoy it, this ham salad is sure to please.
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How Long Does It Last
This easy Ham Salad recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Transfer your ham salad to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Be sure to give it a stir before serving and its best when served chilled.
This Southern Style Ham Salad recipe is very similar to Deviled Ham Salad except that deviled ham doesnt have the pickles and other veggies blended into the mix.
More Easy Lunch Recipes
- Fish Stick Sandwich – Why enjoy fish sticks by themselves when you can make them into a tasty sandwich?
- Pinwheel Sandwiches – Customize these easy-to-serve sandwiches with any of your preferred toppings!
- Lil Smokies Pigs In A Blanket – Lil smokies and crescent rolls make up this incredibly simple snack!
- 4 Ingredient Potato Soup – With just 4 ingredients you can easily whip up some delicious potato soup!
- Air Fryer Grilled Ham & Cheese – Use your air fryer for a tasty and quick grilled cheese sandwich!
- Mexican Torta – This tasty sandwich is packed with flavorful carne asada and all of your favorite toppings!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ , , , or ! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!
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How To Serve Ham Salad
Most of the time youre going to want to make sandwiches, and my only tip is to spread a thin layer of the mayo/Dijon mixture on your slices of bread first. Itll bond the sandwich together and also helps keep it moist.
You can add lettuce, tomato, or a thin slice of red onion if you like, but its also really good on its own.
For tea sandwiches use thinly sliced white bread and cut off the crusts before slicing in triangles or rectangles.
Ham salad also makes an easy appetizer, just serve with buttery crackers like Ritz.
For the carb-averse, use it to fill ribs of celery or endive leaves.
A Classic Egg Salad Recipe
In my mind, the best egg salad is the one that is the simplest to make. It doesn’t need to be complicated with a bunch of weird ingredients. This creamy classic egg salad fits the bill. I love to eat it all by itself but it really makes for a perfect filling for finger sandwiches or on a fresh, warm croissant.
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How To Make This Easy Ham Salad
Step 1. Prepare the ingredients.
Boil the eggs, chop the ham, and dice celery, onions, and pickles. Squeeze the pickles to remove as much juice as possible so you dont end up with a watery salad.
Step 2. Make the dressing.
Grab a small bowl and combine mayo and mustard, mixing until blended.
Step 3. Assemble the salad.
Mix ham, eggs, celery, onion, and pickles in a larger bowl. Pour the mayo dressing over the mixture and mix to combine.
Step 4. Serve it or hide it and eat it all by yourself. :- )
Yes, it is so good that you will want to keep it all for yourself. However, you can serve it in multiple ways.
a. In a sandwich, with some lettuce and fresh tomatoes, maybe some crumbled cooked bacon.
b. As an appetizer, served chilled on bread, crackers, pita/tortilla chips or lettuce leaves.
c. , with a light salad next to it, for lunch or dinner.
Ham Salad Recipe Variations
There are a few variations for ham salad, starting with the texture and also the mix-ins.
- Ham salad is traditionally made in a meat grinder, but I dont have one of those, so I just use my food processor. I like the texture somewhere in-between paste-like and chunky, but you can make it smooth as pâté, if you prefer.
- My recipe calls for 1-2 hard boiled eggs , which adds another layer of flavor and are a great way to use up leftover Easter eggs, but they can easily be omitted without the recipe suffering. I highly recommend you leave them in, though!
- While dill pickle relish has my heart, I actually think sweet relish is the way to go here. The sweetness from the relish gives great balance to the salty ham. But you can certainly use dill pickle relish, if thats your preference.
- The only way Ive ever had ham salad is with sweet pickle relish, minced onion, and diced celery, but my understanding is the very original recipe didnt include any of those items. I cant even imagine it tasting as good!
- Ground up bologna or Spam can replace the ham, Im told, but Ive never tried either.
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Best Ham Salad Recipe
Ham salad can be eaten as-is, but its often served as a sandwich filling too. Watching your carbs? Skip the bread and serve it with lettuce cups instead! You could also stuff it into a pita or roll it up in a tortilla. The world is your oyster, friends.
The best thing about ham salad is that it all starts with leftover ham. Its the perfect way to reuse extra food and make it into something brand new!
Easy Ham Salad Recipe Made In Less Than 10 Minutes
This ham salad recipe is so easy to make and it’s out-of-this-world delicious. It combines chopped ham, eggs, mayonnaise, and just a few other simple ingredients to make an unforgettable salad that doubles as a tasty sandwich too. Plus, it’s super quick to whip up – just 10 minutes are all it takes to make this ham salad!
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Tips For The Best Ham Salad Recipe
- Use a food processor or blender to finely chop the ham, egg and vegetables. You can certainly do this by hand with a good knife and cutting board, but it will take much longer!
- Do not puree the ingredients into a paste. Instead, just pulse the food processor or blender in short bursts until everything is uniformly minced.
- Use a high-quality mayonnaise since this important ingredient adds so much flavor to the dish. Dukes mayo is our favorite!
- Use an ice cream scoop to perfectly portion the ham salad onto slider buns for little sandwiches.
- Add more mayonnaise, to taste, if you like your salad a bit looser.
- If time allows, let the salad sit in the refrigerator overnight so that the flavors can come together. Its even better the next day!
Ham Salad Simple Ingredients:
Black pepper
Dried basil
This ham salad is wonderful and I really believe the Dijon mustard and basil makes this recipe. It adds a certain flavor that is different from other ham salads.
Recipe feedback: I found your ham salad by accident and just love it. All of the ingredients make for a great salad or sandwich which is the way to go. I love the idea of eggs and the djon mustard for a little kick. -CB
This is now my go to ham salad recipe! I love to make it up on a Sunday and enjoy it for lunch during the week. I love your recipes so much! They are all winners: Candy
Note: You can finely chop the ham if you dont have a food processor or a way to grind it up.
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