Easy Ham Salad with Figs & Blue Cheese

This easy ham salad recipe is a great way of using up leftover roast ham. There is no cooking required, instead it’s more of an assembly job. I like to add sweet fresh figs, earthy beetroot and soft blue cheese to the cold ham salad, a fantastic combination of flavours that work beautifully together.

This leftover ham salad recipe came about when I was having a look in my fridge and trying to decide what I could do with the remnants of a large roast ham. I found blue cheese, figs and grapes, along with cooked beetroot and the usual variety of salad vegetables. Perfection really in salad terms, as these flavours all work really well together.

I make this easy ham salad without eggs but feel free to add some hard boiled eggs to the salad if you fancy as those would work well in here too.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• The perfect balance of flavours the salty blue cheese pairs beautifully with the leftover ham, earthy beetroot and the sweet fresh figs and grapes.
• Ready in no time as this roast ham salad is made using leftover ham and bits and pieces that you may already have in your fridge.
• Feeding a crowd, no problem, this salad recipe can be easily doubled up depending on numbers.
• This versatile ham and blue cheese salad can feed 2 as a salad main or 4 as a salad starter or side dish.
• Gluten free and low carb making this a great healthy meal option.

Recipe ingredients

• Roast ham: I have used leftover roast ham and cut it into large chunks. You can use any variety of ham, including thin slices of parma ham.
• Blue cheese: ham and cheese salad is always delicious. I have used salty blue cheese as it’s a real favourite and works perfectly with the ham, grapes and figs.
• Figs: these deliciously sweet fruits work really well with both ham and cheese in this salad. If you don’t like fresh figs you can swap them out and add some fresh slices of melon instead.
• Grapes: add sweetness and a nice bit of crunch to the salad. I’ve used red grapes but green or black grapes work equally well.
• Salad vegetables: I added roasted beetroot, cherry tomatoes and cucumber to my salad as that was simply what I have in my fridge, also beetroot works a treat with both the ham and blue cheese. You can add any combination of salad veggies that you enjoy eating.
• Salad leaves: For salad leaves I opted for a mixed bag. However, you can add any variety of salad leaves as a base in this leftover ham salad recipe.
• Salad dressing – I’ve opted to dress the salad with my Homemade Red Wine Vinaigrette. You can use any vinaigrette style dressing.

How to make Ham Salad with Figs & Blue Cheese

• Prepare the salad ingredients and divide equally between 2 salad bowls if serving as a main salad.
• Drizzle the red wine vinaigrette over the salad and serve immediately.

Flavor variations

The ingredients in this cold ham salad are easy to adapt to suit you own palette and use up what you have in your stores at home. Here are some ideas:

• I’ve used roast ham, but you can use any variety of ham, try thin slices of parma ham, prosciutto or Serrano ham.
• Swap the leftover roast ham for leftover roast turkey, chicken or pork.
• I love soft blue cheese, but you can swap blue cheese for any other cheese that you enjoy eating, try vintage cheddar, a crumbly white stilton, brie, feta, or a soft goats cheese.
• Swap the figs for other fruits, try sliced melon, apples, pears or peaches.
• Red grapes can be swapped for black or green grapes.
• Add some green and/or black olives to the mix.
• Use any variety of salad veggies, add some diced red bell peppers, radishes, sweetcorn, celery or spring onion.
• Cold hard boiled eggs are a great addition to the salad.

Serving suggestion

This ham salad with blue cheese and figs serves 4 as a starter and 2 as a main course. I like to serve salads as a simple starter when I am planning to serve a heavier main course.

If serving this salad as an easy midweek meal, I will serve some crusty bread or bread rolls alongside.

Recipe hints & tips

1. Taste the salad dressing for seasoning before you pour over the ham salad. It is easier to adjust the seasoning in the dressing than it is once it has coated the salad.
2. Don’t be too heavy handed when adding salt as you can always add but never take away! Also both the ham and blue cheese in this salad are salty elements so don’t over season.
3. If serving to coeliacs or anyone following a gluten free diet just check the label on your pot of mustard and ensure it is gluten free. If using your own or a store bought salad dressing ensure that it is gluten free.
4. Allergy advice: gluten free, soya free and peanut free. For comprehensive and detailed allergy advice go to Allergy UK.

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Additional recipe suggestions

If you enjoy a large salad main, try these great recipes:

• Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese Salad
• Peach & Burrata Salad with Candied Pecans
• Roast Pumpkin Salad
• Grilled Vegetables with Halloumi
• Chicken & Asparagus Salad

Love salad? Then head to my Best Salad Recipes post where you will find links to all of my favourite salads in one place.