Leftover ham is never bad. These 6 recipes are the proof.
It happens when we serve ham at Easter. On Monday morning, The One and I open the fridge because we’re indulging in too many carbs and find a piece of pork staring at us.
It goes without saying that The One prepares its split pea soup with bones instead of knuckles. But we keep scratching our heads and wondering, “How are we going to use up all that leftover ham?”
In a year, I dreamed up the ham, cheese, and potato casserole below, and it’s since become an annual staple. I encourage you to try if you haven’t. Honestly, it’s reason enough to buy and cook a whole ham.
And, of course, there’s Julia’s Eggs Benedict, cheese and pork omelettes, more potatoes and ham, and just about any salad — leafy or potato salad — can benefit from ham.
Need more ideas? Fold some too-plain empanadas. Stir chunks into your favorite sourdough bread. (Don’t forget to throw in a handful or two of grated cheese and lots of black pepper). Slide some into grilled cheese sandwiches. I could go on.
Tell me: if you are a ham lover, what do you do with everything your leftovers?
xo,
This ham, cheese and potato casserole is our new definition of decadent home cooking. Layers of cooked ham, thinly sliced potatoes, shallots and sticky cheese are baked in a rich cream sauce until crisp and golden.
Recipe
I’ve made this ham and potato casserole probably five times and it’s outstanding. I use regular milk instead of cream just to lighten it up a bit. And I sauté some garlic with the shallot instead of grating it on the plate. Always delicious and always gets rave reviews. It even tastes great at room temperature or cold the next morning.-Davey
Be sure to remove not only the inedible rind but also excess fat from the cooked country ham. The deep flavor of this fat is just too strong, bad game for the pears
Recipe
This Arugula Salad recipe is so easy to make, yet so beautiful and delicious. Talk about visually appealing!
Each bite is different – the slight saltiness of the ham, the tart sweetness of the pear, the nutty crunch of the walnuts, the little peppery bite of the arugula, all topped off with a deliciously sweet vinaigrette. Every single ingredient is so good, but tastes even better mixed! The toasted walnut oil added a pleasant nutty smokiness.
We’ve had this with guests, and every single adult has asked for the recipe. I (deliberately) made too much vinaigrette, so my family and I had the salad again the next day (oh, shucks), but this time we topped it with parmesan slivers in addition to the other delicious bits.– Brenda
This ham and cheese omelette is so delicious you’ll make it often even if you don’t have the time or energy. Throw in some salty ham and you have a winning meal any time of the day.
Recipe
Ham and Potato Sarladaise is just a fancy French way of saying, “Hey, do you have any spare ham?” That’s a fantastically comforting thing to do with it!” The addition of parsley and garlic make it rustic and quick to make.
Recipe
The ham and potato sarladaise was a wonderful dish to make with leftover ham. My family loved it! I added onions while frying the potatoes! Would definitely do this again.-Lori
From the beloved Julia Child, this Eggs Benedict is made with hollandaise sauce, poached eggs, buttered brioche (or English muffins) and ham. The perfect brunch recipe. (How can you say no to Julia!)
Recipe
Great! This Eggs Benedict recipe is divine, especially the hollandaise!– Mike M
Frequently asked questions about leftover ham
How long can leftover hams be kept in the refrigerator?
Leftover ham can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. Store in an airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
Can you freeze leftover ham?
Yes. Sliced or chopped ham can be frozen in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before use.
What’s the best way to reheat ham so it doesn’t dry out?
Reheat your ham in the oven or on the stovetop with a little extra liquid to keep it from becoming tough or dry.
To reheat the ham in the oven, place it in a casserole dish with a few tablespoons of broth or water. Cover tightly and heat in a 325°F oven until heated through, about 10 minutes per pound.
To warm up the ham on the stove, place the ham in a pan with a few tablespoons of broth or water. Cover the pan and set over low heat until warmed through, stirring occasionally.
If you have a spare ham bone, don’t throw it away! It adds incredible flavor to this slow cooker pea soup, which is another great use for leftover ham.
6 recipes for leftover ham
Perhaps the easiest way to use up the leftover ham is to sandwich it between two slices of bread, spread some butter and mustard on top, sprinkle with cheese and grill until golden. Behold our favorite ☞ GRILLED HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH.
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Place both slices of bread on your work surface. Spread some butter on each slice of bread, then spread the mustard on top.
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Layer the ham and cheese on one slice of bread, season with salt and pepper, then place the other slice of bread on top, mustard-side down.
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Melt the remaining butter in a skillet over medium or medium heat. Carefully place the sandwich in the pan and cook, turning once, until crisp and golden brown, about 3 minutes per side.
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Grab your spatula, flip it onto a plate, and prepare to make your day exponentially better.
Portion: 1sandwichCalories: 522kcal (26%)Carbohydrates: 25G (8th%)Protein: 23G (46%)Fat: 37G (57%)Saturated Fatty Acids: 20G (125%)Polyunsaturated fat: 3GMonounsaturated fatty acids: 10GTrans fats: 1GCholesterol: 129mg (43%)Sodium: 1106mg (48%)Potassium: 243mg (7%)Fiber: 1G (4%)Sugar: 3G (3%)Vitamin A: 937ie (19%)Vitamin C: 13mg (16%)Calcium: 368mg (37%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
If you make this recipe, take a picture and tag it with a hashtag #LeitesCulinaria. We would love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook and others Twitter.
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