Legume Ham Salad
Legume Ham Salad is the perfect salad for a family picnic or to make ahead for a potluck. A perfect make ahead recipe that tastes great. Served cold it is a perfect summertime dish. But can be enjoyed any time of year.Pasta Salad Side Dish
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 336kcal
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Kitchen Essentials
Blue Bowl
Glass Mixing Bowl
Dessert Cups
Batter Bowl
Prevent your screen from going dark
Ingredients
- 1/2 medium Onion Diced
- 13 ounces Sweet Peas
- 16 ounces Smoked Ham Thin sliced and diced
- 2 Cups Dried Gluten Free Pasta Cooked
- 4 ounces Mild Cheddar cheese Shredded
- 4 ounces Mild Brick cheese Diced
Salad Dressing
- 1 1/2 Cups Mayonnaise
- 2 TBL. Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tsp. Lemon Juice
- 1/2 Cup Milk
- 1/2 Tsp. Salt
- 1/2 Tsp. Pepper
text ingredients
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Rinse well with cold water until pasta is cold. Place cooked and cooled pasta in a large mixing or serving bowl.
- Thaw the frozen vegetables or dice up the fresh vegetables of your choosing. Add to the cooled pasta along with the ham and cheese.
- In another bowl, whisk together all salad dressing ingredients and pour over pasta and other ingredients.
- Gently fold in dressing until all ingredients are evenly coated. This can be covered and stored in the refrigerator up to two days.
Video
Notes
Legume Ham Salad Variations
Like all great recipes, this one can be added and subtracted from. • Use frozen mixed vegetables rather than just sweet peas • Swap out the Miracle Whip for mayonnaise • Add diced bell peppers • Any type of onion works for this recipe, yellow, white, red, sweet Vidalia • Swap out the ham for thin sliced deli chicken, turkey, or salami. All are great choices. Easy one will add a new and distinct flavor.Tips on How to Make an Easy Pasta Salad
Make salad ahead- I like to make the salad the day before or at least 1-2 hours ahead of time. This gives all the ingredients time to meld together and amps up the flavor profile of this simple dish. Pasta shells- Though you can use any pasta for this salad recipe. Today, I used the legume gluten-free pasta. They add an appeal to the salad and perform so well with the remaining ingredients. Cut uniform sizes- Be sure to cut the ham and cheese in uniform sizes and the onion should be diced fine. This will help assure that you get a taste of all the ingredients in each bite. Be careful not to overcook the pasta– Overcooked pasta will become mushy and unpleasant in the salad. Once the pasta is cooked, drain and rinse under cold water to keep it from sticking together. Homemade salad dressing- The dressing can also be made ahead and kept refrigerated. You can tweak the dressing with more milk for a thinner consistency if desired.Can Gluten-Free Salad Be Made in Advance?
Yes, it can. This can be made up to two days in advance. However, when you get to day three or four, I find that the legume pasta tends to start to break down and get a bit grainy tasting. Therefore, it is best to eat this pasta salad within 1-2 days of making it.Can You Freeze Legume Pasta?
I would not freeze this fresh pasta salad. Like other pasta and rice dishes, the pasta can break down in the freezer. Additionally, the salad dressing consistency will change when frozen. Therefore, due to the consistency changes in the ingredients of this salad, I do not recommend freezing this.Nutrition
Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 873mg | Potassium: 532mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 474IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 181mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe? Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made! @patternprincess1 or tag #Patternprincess!
A few of my favorite things
The Power of Positivity