It’s a tale as old as time: after all the fuss of Christmas preparation, all the weeks of panic cleaning and present wrapping and Christmas cracker stuffing and dessert baking and family coordinating… by the time Christmas day has finally ended, it seems all you have to show for it is a happy family – hooray – and what seems to be three metric tonnes of leftover Christmas ham.
But before you sigh that you’ve already done enough this holiday season and you’re happy just nibbling on boring ham toasties – don’t. There are plenty of simple recipes you can make that use up leftover ham without the need for the extra ingredients, hours in the kitchen or more trips to the grocery store.
Here are some of our favourite easy recipes that use up leftover Christmas ham.
An easy pea and ham soup
This easy, hearty soup is filled with simple ingredients that have a big flavour. It’s filled with fresh vegetables and chicken stock and only takes 15 minutes of prep time, meaning that you can relax on the couch and enjoy the peace and quiet. It’s a delicious and comforting meal that’ll have your tastebuds watering.
A comforting potato-topped pie
A flavour-packed pie is the best comfort food after a long day, and this potato-topped dish is exactly what you’ll need after the havoc of Christmas. Steve Cumper’s recipe does call for chicken thighs, so you’ll just need to skip the first step, swapping the chicken for ham.
A classic ham and egg pie
Is there a better pairing than bacon or ham and eggs? If you believe Country Style’s resident chef, Steve Cumper, then no there’s not. This simple pie recipe uses frozen pastry, your leftover ham, cream and eggs and takes only a few minutes in the oven. But again, this recipe originally called for bacon, so you should swap it out for ham.
An indulgent stuffed filo pastry (BYO ham!)
This delicious filo recipe allows stuffing to have its moment in the sun. You can also add as many or as few ingredients as you prefer, either way, the method remains similar. Just make sure to use ham where it asks for bacon.
A flavoursome French-style leek and ham tart
Who doesn’t love a leek and onion tart? While this recipe by Annie Smithers’ is vegetarian, you should add ham as your protein, and you can always use store-bought puff pastry instead of homemade dough if that’s what you have on hand.
A classic caramelised onion and tomato quiche (just add ham)
This baked egg dish is a favourite for a reason, and all it needs is a little bit of Christmas magic: ham. Flavoured with caramelised onions – which aren’t as tricky as you might think to make – and a tomato-egg base, it’s a simple recipe that won’t make you pull your hair out.
