If you have a little country ham left after Sunday dinner, a holiday meal, or a family gathering, don’t let it sit forgotten in the refrigerator.
Turn it into Country Ham Salad instead.
This old-fashioned Southern-inspired spread takes only a few minutes to put together. Finely chopped country ham is mixed with creamy mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, Dijon mustard, and green onions for a combination that’s salty, tangy, slightly sweet, and wonderfully creamy.
Spread it on soft bread for lunch, scoop it onto crackers for a quick snack, or make little tea sandwiches when company is coming.
And because there’s no cooking involved, it’s one of those recipes that’s especially handy when you want something homemade without making another full meal.
Why Country Ham Works So Well in Ham Salad
Country ham has a much stronger flavor than ordinary deli ham.
It’s cured, salty, and savory, so you don’t need a long list of ingredients to make it taste interesting.
The trick is balance.
The mayonnaise softens the salty ham, pickle relish adds sweetness and acidity, Dijon mustard gives the mixture a little sharpness, and green onions add freshness.
That’s why this simple combination works so well.
What You’ll Need
For the Ham Salad
- ½ pound country ham, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Hold off on adding salt. Country ham can already be quite salty, and the amount varies depending on the ham you’re using.
If You Don’t Have Country Ham
You don’t have to skip the recipe.
You can use:
- Leftover baked ham
- Smoked ham
- Thick-cut deli ham
- Leftover holiday ham
The flavor won’t be exactly the same, but you’ll still get a delicious creamy ham spread.
How to Make Country Ham Salad
1. Chop the Ham Finely
This is one place where texture really matters.
Cut the ham into smaller pieces first. If you’re using a food processor, pulse it several times until the meat resembles small, coarse crumbs.
Don’t run the processor continuously.
You want finely chopped ham—not ham paste.
If you don’t have a food processor, a sharp knife works perfectly well.
2. Mix the Dressing
Add the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sweet pickle relish, and black pepper to a bowl.
Stir until smooth.
At this point, the mixture should taste creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet.
3. Add the Ham and Green Onions
Add the chopped ham and green onions.
Fold everything together gently until the dressing coats the ham evenly.
Don’t keep stirring once everything is combined. Leaving a little texture makes the finished salad much more enjoyable.
