Ham Salad Tea Sandwiches
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When it comes to tea party savories, Ham Salad Tea Sandwiches are one of my favorites. Sort of like a deviled ham salad with onion, celery, and pimento. Serve on thin slices of wheat or rye bread or spread thick on snack crackers.
As a girl, my mom liked to make ham salad with holiday dinner leftovers. I remember it being very simple, with shredded cheddar cheese and salad dressing (Miracle Whip). It was always so good. This recipe kicks things up a notch with additional flavors and crunch and is also very good.
On occasion, I’ve even added plum chutney or sweet relish to the ingredients, and both turned out great, offering differing flavors, depending on what you have in the fridge or pantry. It’s very versatile.
I love planning a tea party and give lots of thought to the menu, whether large or a simple arrangement. If it’s a formal party, I try to have at least 3 savory selections, usually little tea sandwiches cut in triangles or other shapes. Then of course, there are the scones and dainty desserts that go with them. For a smaller, more intimate tea party of 2-4 people, I may only serve 1-2 savories.
More Tea Sandwich Ideas
- Curried Chicken Tea Sandwiches
- Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches
- Smoked Salmon Mousse Sandwiches
- Homemade Pimento Cheese Spread
Ingredients for Ham Salad Tea Sandwiches
(See the full recipe at the bottom of this post.)
- cooked ham (ground)
- mayonnaise
- celery, diced
- pimento, chopped
- favorite chutney or sweet relish
- Dijon mustard
- dried minced onion
- lemon juice
- smoked paprika
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- thinly sliced wheat or rye bread
- butter
Instructions for This Recipe
Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
Prepare the Ingredients
To prepare the cooked ham, add shredded or diced pieces to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Place ham in a large mixing bowl.
Using a chef’s knife and cutting board, dice the celery.
Make the Ham Salad
Add to the ground ham, the mayonnaise, diced celery, chopped pimento, and if desired, your favorite chutney or sweet relish.
Adding chutney or relish to the mixture is optional, but each condiment adds its own element and flavor to the ham salad. If you don’t have chutney in your pantry or are unable to find it at the store, use sweet relish, or simply omit this ingredient altogether.
Next, add in the dried minced onion, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and smoked paprika. Stir until all is combined and well mixed.
Place the ham salad in covered container and allow to refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow all the flavors to meld.
Assemble the Tea Sandwiches
To make the tea sandwiches, butter the inside of wheat or rye bread. Lay bread on the prepared baking sheet with buttered sides up. Spread ham salad on one piece and top with a second piece of bread.
Using a sharp knife or a bench knife, remove crusts. (Place crusts in a freezer bag for later use for croutons or dressing.) Slice sandwiches in halves or thirds, depending on the number of people or how many varieties of sandwiches you will be serving. You might also choose to cut the sandwiches in shapes such as bears, hearts, or circles.
People always wonder whether to slice the bread before or after making the sandwiches. Tea Party afficionados recommend removing the crusts and slicing the sandwiches after they have been assembled.
Cover sandwiches with another sheet of waxed paper and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to an hour prior to serving.
Serving Tea Savories
Garnish the finger sandwiches with fresh parsley or mint, or poke toothpicks in baby dill pickles or green olives to adorn the sandwiches. Arrange on a pretty serving tray or tiered serving dish.
If serving on a traditional 3 tiered serving dish, you may serve the sandwiches on the bottom, with scones on the second level, and desserts on top.
Another option, is to serve the ham salad in a pretty bowl, as a spread for crackers.
This recipe will make 20-30 tea sandwiches and will serve 10-15 people.
See more Tea Party Recipes Here. Browse Sandwiches Here.
Ham Salad Tea Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups cooked ham ground
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons celery diced
- 2 tablespoons pimento chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoon favorite chutney or 1/4 cup sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 20 slices thinly sliced wheat or rye bread
- 1/3 cup butter
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
Prepare the Ingredients
- To prepare the cooked ham, add shredded or diced pieces to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Place ham in a large mixing bowl.
- Using a chef's knife and cutting board, dice the celery.
Make the Ham Salad
- Add to the ground ham, the mayonnaise, diced celery, chopped pimento, and if desired, your favorite chutney or sweet relish.
- (Adding chutney or relish to the mixture is optional, but each condiment adds its own element and flavor to the ham salad. If you don't have chutney in your pantry or are unable to find it at the store, use sweet relish, or simply omit this ingredient altogether.)
- Next, add in the dried minced onion, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and smoked paprika. Stir until all is combined and well mixed.
- Place the ham salad in covered container and allow to refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow all the flavors to meld.
Assemble the Tea Sandwiches
- To make the tea sandwiches, butter the inside of wheat or rye bread. Lay bread on the prepared baking sheet with buttered sides up. Spread ham salad on one buttered side and top with a second piece of bread.
- Using a sharp knife or a bench knife, remove crusts. (Place crusts in a freezer bag for later use for croutons or dressing.) Slice sandwiches in halves or thirds, depending on the number of people or how many varieties of sandwiches you will be serving. You might also choose to cut the sandwiches in shapes such as bears, hearts, or circles.
- Cover sandwiches with another sheet of waxed paper and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to an hour prior to serving.
Garnish and Serve
- Garnish the finger sandwiches with fresh parsley or mint, or poke toothpicks in baby dill pickles or green olives to adorn the sandwiches. Arrange on a pretty serving tray or tiered serving dish.
- If serving on a traditional 3 tiered serving dish, you may serve the sandwiches on the bottom, with scones on the second level, and desserts on top.
- Another option, is to serve the ham salad in a pretty bowl, as a spread for crackers.
- This recipe will make 20-30 tea sandwiches and will serve 10-15 people.
Notes
Nutrition