Mom's Ham Salad • easy classic recipe! (2024)

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Ham salad just like mom made…with a few improvements to make this classic salad even better. Eat it in a sandwich, on crackers, or by the spoonful, it’s good!

Mom's Ham Salad • easy classic recipe! (1)

the ham salad you remember (maybe it’s even just a little bit better?)

  • the ham: I use a smoked ham…you can find it in the packaged meat section of your grocery store. Sometimes it will come sliced, but it doesn’t matter for this recipe. A smoked ham adds an extra layer of flavor to this salad.
  • the mayo: sure, you could just add a big kollop of Miracle Whip to your salad, that’s what my mom did. But I’m going up a notch with actual mayonnaise, lol, and a nice glug of creamy Dijon mustard. Mix the two together and you’ve got a much better dressing for this salad.
  • the relish: mom added sweet relish. As kids we loved the extra sweetness but I’m going one better with finely minced gherkins. And add in a few of the little co*cktail onions that come in the jar, that’s how we’re rolling.
  • the bread: ok, I cop to it, I’m using the same sliced white bread mom did. There are some things you just can’t improve on 😉
Mom's Ham Salad • easy classic recipe! (2)

the method

Mom had a meat grinder, and for the longest time I assumed I couldn’t make ham salad because I didn’t. But guess what? A food processor works just as good, if not better for turning chunks of ham into a fluffy salad. Who knew?

Mom's Ham Salad • easy classic recipe! (3)

how to grind ham in a food processor

  1. Chop your ham into chunks. This helps the food processor grind the meat evenly.
  2. You’re going to use the pulse button, and you want to give it about 50 short pulses, give or take, until the ham is fluffy and evenly chopped.
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how to serve ham salad

Most of the time you’re 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. It’ll 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 it’s 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.

Mom's Ham Salad • easy classic recipe! (5)

more sandwich inspo

  • Smoked Salmon Salad
  • Curried Chickpea Salad (vegan or not!)
  • Great Island Curried Chicken Salad
  • Sheet Pan Tuna Melts
  • Perfect Patty Melts

Mom's Ham Salad • easy classic recipe! (6)

Mom’s Ham Salad

5 from 12 votes

Ham salad just like mom made…with a few improvements to make this classic salad even better. Eat it in a sandwich, on crackers, or by the spoonful, it'sgood!

Prep Time:15 minutes minutes

Total Time:15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 sandwiches

Equipment

  • food processor

Ingredients

  • 1 lb smoked ham, cut in rough chunks
  • 1/3 cup relish or finely minced cornichons (you can process the pickles with the ham if you like.)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tsp creamy Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Put the ham into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Give the machine 50-60 short pulses, until the ham is evenly ground and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary to make sure everything gets evenly minced.

  • Transfer the ham to a bowl along with the relish or minced cornichons.

  • Mix the mayo, mustard, and salt until smooth. Taste it to see if it needs any adjustments. Toss the salad with the dressing until well combined.

  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

NEW FEATURE! Click here to add your own private notes.

Course: lunch

Cuisine: American

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: ham, lunch, salad, sandwich

Nutrition

Calories: 243 kcal · Carbohydrates: 3 g · Protein: 13 g · Fat: 20 g · Saturated Fat: 5 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 7 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 7 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 41 mg · Sodium: 1039 mg · Potassium: 176 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 1 g · Vitamin A: 27 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 7 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at @theviewfromgreatisland for a chance to be featured.

Mom's Ham Salad • easy classic recipe! (7)

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Mom's Ham Salad • easy classic recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What is deli ham salad made of? ›

Ham salad is similar to chicken salad, egg salad, or tuna salad. It is prepared with cooked, cold ham along with vegetables, relish, and mayonnaise. It is then chilled and served cold directly from the refrigerator.

What is deviled ham spread made of? ›

Place ham, mayonnaise, mustard, hot pepper sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt, black pepper, paprika, and caraway seeds in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine.

How do you season your salad? ›

As you toss the salad with your hands or forks, sprinkle on salt and pepper. Taste and adjust as needed. Add any other mix-ins, such as nuts, cheese, or other dressy things.

In what order should you build a salad? ›

Dressing goes on the bottom, veggies and other salad goodies get piled on top. Everything stays separate and dressing-free until you toss the salad together in the bowl — never eat another soggy lunch salad again.

Why does my ham salad get watery? ›

Your ham salad may be watery due to excess moisture from ingredients like celery, onion, and pickles or from the ham itself. To reduce wateriness, dry the ingredients before mixing, and avoid using too much mayonnaise.

How long does deli ham salad last in the fridge? ›

Fresh Ham salad will last in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

What is Underwood Deviled Ham Spread? ›

Underwood first canned deviled ham in 1868, as a mixture of ground ham with various seasonings. Deviling was done with other meat and seafood products, including turkey, chicken, tongue and lobster. "Deviling" consists of adding such spices as pepper sauce, cayenne pepper, Dijon mustard, or chopped chili peppers.

What is Spam made of? ›

In fact, SPAM only contains six ingredients! And the brand's website lists them all. They are: pork with ham meat added (that counts as one), salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrite.

What's the difference between deviled ham and Spam? ›

It is not to be confused with Spam, which involves a meat mixture mostly consisting of pork shoulder, and lacks deviled ham's spicier flavor. The word "devil" appeared in relation to food in the 1700s, and the word "deviled" appeared in 1800 in the following phrase: "At half past two ate a devil'd kidney".

What can I put in my salad to make it taste better? ›

12 Easy Ways to Make Salad Taste Amazing – Seriously
  1. Make Your Salad a Spectacle. ...
  2. Mix and Match Leaves. ...
  3. Upgrade Your Salad Dressings. ...
  4. Massage Your Salad Greens. ...
  5. Toss in Cooked Veggies. ...
  6. Add Fresh Herbs. ...
  7. Sweeten with Fruit. ...
  8. Heat Your Salad Dressing.
Mar 9, 2022

What is the most important seasoning in salad? ›

To really up the flavor of your salad, reach for the herbs and spices, which add both flavor and health benefits. "Try adding basil, parsley, chives, thyme, cilantro, mint, or dill," Scheinfeld says. "Thyme goes well in chicken salads, parsley with grains, and cilantro with avocado and peppers.

What can I add to my salad to make it nicer? ›

Add spices and flavours such as paprika, chilli flakes, curry powder, harissa or parmesan. Add acidity or sourness with vinegar, lemon juice or pomegranate molasses to transform your salad.

What are the 4 basic parts of a salad? ›

The basic parts of a salad are the base, the body, the garnish, and the dressing. The five basic types of salad are green salads (tossed or composed), bound, vegetable, fruit, and combination.

What are the three keys to a quality salad? ›

The three keys to ensuring a quality salad are:
  • freshness of ingredients.
  • the ingredients blend together in harmony.
  • appealing to the eye.

What are the ingredients in ham deli meat? ›

Ham, Water, Vinegar*, Contains 2% Or Less: Salt, Dextrose, Sodium Phosphate, Natural Flavorings (Including Celery Juice Powder*), Sugar, Sea Salt, Citric Acid. *To Preserve Quality.

Is deli ham healthy for you? ›

It's rich in protein and several beneficial nutrients. However, regularly eating processed meats like ham may increase your risk of certain cancers. Thus, it's best to limit your intake and stick to fresh, less processed types of ham as part of a balanced diet.

Is boar's head deli ham processed? ›

Our products are not highly processed. In order for you to enjoy optimum flavor, we recommend that you do not purchase more product than you can consume within three days. Are there nutritional brochures available? You can view several of our nutritional brochures online at www.boarshead.com/about/brochures.

Is ham from the deli processed meat? ›

Processed meat is meat that has been preserved by smoking, curing, salting or by adding preservatives, nitrates and nitrites. Processed meat includes ham, devon, bacon, salami, frankfurts, prosciutto and some sausages such as cabanossi and kransky.

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