Hello Milk Streeters! Welcome to “Milk Street Social Club,” a weekly food dispatch from the Milk Street staff sharing stories, recipes and what we’re cooking in our home kitchens.
With two Southern parents and my entire family residing down south, for me, this time of year means one thing and one thing only: ham.
It’s served with many of the Southern staples you’d expect: long-simmered greens with ham hock, macaroni and cheese, sweet tea, deviled eggs and my grandmother’s caramel cake.
But once the holiday feast is over, much of the massive ham hock remains. Do you share our day-after ham plight? Milk Street is here to help!
Here are five recipes to use up every last bit of that long-awaited, once-yearly ham.
Long live the leftovers.
-Sydney Manning, Social Media Manager
Ham, Gruyère, and Asparagus Tartines
All that’s needed is a baguette, nutty gruyère, spicy-tangy dijon and spring asparagus. Don’t have asparagus? Use whatever greens you’ve got on-hand such as spinach.
Spinach, Ham and Cheddar Strata
A strata is possibly the most decadent leftovers concoction, despite the fact that it’s just eggs, milk, bread, loads of cheese. Tossed in a casserole dish, the mixture bakes up into a savory, custardy bread pudding with crusty tops and bubbly cheese, perfect for a variety of mix-ins. Our favorite combo is, of course, spinach and ham.
Ham and Cheese Quesadillas with Pickled Jalapeños
I know you've got flour tortillas taking up space in the pantry. What better way to use them up than with these 30-minute ham and cheese quesadillas? Here's a quick tip: rather than adding your ham and cheese (and whatever else you've got on-hand) individually, try mixing all of your ingredients together and then distributing it among the tortillas. By doing this, you ensure the maximum melding of flavors and textures. What could be better than that?
Fried Rice with Edamame and Ham
And if you’ve got leftover rice chilling in the fridge, consider frying it up for a dinner that comes together in mere minutes. It’s savory and delightfully salty, and the pops of bright edamame make every mouthful feel equal parts nourishing and texturally interesting.
Kimchi Grilled Cheese with Ham
Nothing beats the classic ham and cheese sandwich, but on days when you need a little kick of heat, try adding a bit of spicy, garlicky kimchi. Not only does it bring a tiny bit of crunch to perfectly-toasted bread, but it also adds finishing notes of umami to an already deliciously savory sandwich.
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