9 “Hamtastic” Ways to Reinvent your Dinner Leftovers
Eating ham on Easter is largely an American tradition. While most of the world celebrates the holiday by making roast lamb, here in the good ‘ole USA we’re all about the ham!
Besides being delicious, ham is a larger, less costly cut of meat than lamb, and is perfect for feeding a crowd.
Depending on what type of ham you buy (and that’s a whole other story!), some of these bad boys can get up to 18 pounds. But what if your guests’ eyes are bigger than their stomachs? You could find yourself with a whole lot of leftover ham.
And hey, we get it, the average person can only eat so many leftover ham and cheese sandwiches before the rest of that meat gets tossed in the trash. Luckily, ham is a versatile protein and easy to add to recipes for extra flavor and savoriness.
Here are some of our favorite ways to use up that leftover ham to spice up the menu. Of course, these recipes aren’t just for Easter leftovers – use them anytime you have a hankering for ham and be prepared to come back for seconds!
Breakfast
These days bacon is all the rage, but we say don’t forget the ham! Opt for the leaner, less greasy cousin of bacon, and give your arteries a rest.
- Ham Hash: Who doesn’t love a good hash? Use frozen hashbrowns, throw in some diced peppers and onions along with your leftover ham in a pan, crack a few eggs over it and viola – a new breakfast fav!
- Monte Cristo Sandwich: Never heard of this? That’s okay. It’s an egg-dipped ham and cheese sandwich which is then pan-fried or deep-fried. There are a lot of variations to this recipe – some folks add turkey, too. Slather on some mayo, mustard, or dust with powdered sugar and serve with syrup. Scrumptious!
- Egg Pastry Cups: Try Josef’s recipe and substitute the Canadian bacon with ham. You’ll fall in love after just one fluffy, flaky bite.
Lunch
The mighty midday meal! Whether you’re brown-bagging it at work, home with the kids, relaxing on the weekend, or entertaining a few friends, these simple ideas will never let you down.
- Ham Salad: This is the much less popular relative of tuna fish or chicken salad, but give it a fair shake. Mixed with chopped vegetables, pickles, or relishes, along with liberal amounts of mayonnaise or Miracle Whip, this can be a tasty sandwich or scooped onto crackers. We’ve got a killer ham salad recipe we think is pretty darn delicious, if you don’t mind our saying.
- Grilled Ham & Cheese: A lunchtime classic! Try different toppings like tomatoes, avocado, and gourmet cheeses and breads, and you have yourself a delicacy. Don’t forget the tomato soup!
Dinner
Please, do NOT heat up one more plate of Easter dinner leftovers. Your taste buds are going to start a revolution. Try these ideas instead:
- Soups & Chowders: There’s no easier way to use up leftover ham than tossing it into a pot of simmering soup or chowder. Lentil, split pea, corn chowder, or potato chowder all pair well with smokey, savory ham.
- Ham Loaf: A spin on a classic comfort food. Ham up your classic meatloaf recipe by substituting the beef with leftover ham. You can thank us later.
- Baked Beans: How about a summertime picnic a few months early? Substitute leftover ham instead of bacon for a changeup on classic baked beans. Toss a few of Josef’s handcrafted wiener’s on the grill, and you have yourself one heck of a cookout – or cook in!
- Pizza: Tired of the same old pizza? Mix things up by adding ham as a topping! From meat lovers to Hawaiian to Josef’s Favorite Ham Pizza recipe ham will surely add some much-needed variety to your pizza palate.
All Out of Leftover Ham?
Not to worry! Here at Josef’s Artisan Meats, we have an award winning ham that will knock your socks off!
It’s slow-smoked over natural hardwoods to give it a rich and distinctive flavor that makes it a superb addition to any dish. Try it with any of the ideas and recipes above, on a simple sandwich, or on a charcuterie tray with fruits and cheeses. You’ll be a diehard “ham fan” before you know it!
