5 Ways to Use Leftover Ham
If you had to choose between a fancy meal of ham with all the fixin’s and a leftover ham sandwich, the sandwich would certainly win every single time. In fact, there’s a good choice the ham wouldn’t even make it into the sandwich, as you might have a tendency to just cut pieces of ham off the bone and eat them straight. For sure, you’d agree!
Embarrassing snacking habits aside, having leftover ham in the house means that you have dinner options for days. While there are some obvious things you can make with ham – split pea soup, scalloped potatoes and ham sandwiches come to mind – you’re sure to want to try some of the following leftover ham ideas that veer away from these classic recipes:
PANINI-IZE IT.
Sure, you could make a regular ham sandwich with cheddar cheese and mustard. But why not take things up a level? Spread some Dijon mustard on two slices of crusty bread, then add ham, cheese (Brie would be a good choice), and apple slices. Cook in a panini press until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown. Tuck some fresh arugula inside of the sandwich before eating.
SERVE IT FOR BRUNCH.
Whenever there’s leftover sausage or ham, or extra veggies in the fridge, some people make a crustless quiche or baked egg casserole. (Crustless quiche recipe below) Breakfast for dinner reigns supreme, and this can also be served alongside a green salad for dinner.
PASTA BAKE.
Baked pasta is fantastic way to feed a crowd. Cook some penne pasta until it’s almost al dente (about two minutes less than usual), then toss the pasta with some ricotta cheese and chopped ham. Spread a layer of tomato sauce into the bottom of a 9- by 13-inch baking dish, then layer the pasta mixture with additional tomato sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and fresh basil. Bake in a 350ºF oven until the cheese is bubbling, about 50 minutes.
GO WITH CREPES.
Have you ever tried baked crepes? Mix up a savory crepe batter (without sugar) and cook a stack of the thin pancakes. Sauté together a mixture of savory ingredients, such as onions, garlic, mushrooms and ham, and stir in some mascarpone cheese. Fill the crepes with the savory mixture, roll them up and place in a baking dish. Top with grated Parmesan cheese, then bake in a 350ºF oven until the crepes are warmed through, 10 to 15 minutes.
SOUP IT UP.
You can’t have a list of leftover ham ideas without including soup! While the obvious choice is a classic split pea soup, try branching out to a creamy ham and potato chowder, a tomato- and broth-based ham and bean soup, or a healthy slow cooker version that’s packed with ham, barley and vegetables.
CRUSTLESS QUICHE RECIPE
Start by chopping broccoli into small florets. At the same time, bring a large saucepan of water to a boil.
Add the broccoli to the boiling and water and cook for one minute. Drain in a colander and immediately rinse with cold water (or plunge into a bowl of ice water) to stop the broccoli from cooking further.
Whisk together some eggs, egg whites (you may try to lighten things up if you like), water, cottage cheese, thyme, salt and pepper.
Pour the egg mixture into a pie dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle the broccoli, some chopped ham and feta cheese over the egg.
Bake until the egg is set, then let the quiche cool for five minutes before cutting into wedges.
Enjoy!