A leg of jamón offers endless possibilities for some pretty spectacular leftovers. Those hard-to-reach places not only have a lot of different foods and flavors, but they also have beautiful thin slices that you can use for charcuterie boards, sandwiches, and breakfast toasts. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
If you still have jamón from the holidays or just want some ideas on how to use every last bit of this tasty leg, we’re here to help. Here are some of the best ways to use up any extra jamón you have, whether it’s after the holidays or any other time of the year.
Serrano ham is a delicious cured Spanish ham that is usually sliced paper-thin and enjoyed as part of a charcuterie board or sandwich However, when you buy a whole leg of Serrano ham, you often end up with leftovers. While it keeps well in the fridge, it can be challenging to figure out creative ways to use up those leftover slices
In this article, I’ll share 10 delicious ideas for using up leftover Serrano ham so none of it goes to waste. As a food blogger and home cook, I’ve experimented with many different recipes and techniques to make the most of this expensive delicacy. From quick snacks to gourmet recipes, read on for inspiration on how to enjoy every last bit of your Serrano ham.
1. Make Crispy Serrano Ham Chips
One of the simplest ways to use up leftover Serrano ham is to turn it into crispy ham chips. Just slice the ham as thinly as possible, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake at 400°F for 5-10 minutes until lightly browned and crisped up.
These salty, savory chips make a great topping for salads, soups, eggs or avocado toast. They also pack well as a crunchy snack for picnics or road trips. I like to season them with a dash of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper before baking for an extra flavor kick.
2. Fry It Up for Breakfast
Frying up bites of Serrano ham makes for a quick and easy breakfast or brunch side. Simply cut the ham into small cubes or strips and fry in olive oil over medium heat until lightly browned and crispy on the edges.
These ham bites pair perfectly with eggs, either scrambled, fried, or in an omelet. You can also serve them alongside pancakes or waffles for a savory breakfast treat. I like to sprinkle the fried ham with a little fresh thyme or rosemary.
3. Add It to Soups & Stews
Adding leftover Serrano ham to soups and stews is an easy way to inject them with bold, savory flavor. The saltiness of the ham enhances soups and provides a nice texture contrast.
Some ideas for soups to add cubed Serrano ham to include bean or lentil soups, potato soups, and vegetable soups like minestrone. You can also add it to pasta e fagioli or ham and split pea soup. Just be sure to add it near the end to avoid over-salting the dish.
4. Stuff It in a Baked Potato
Baked potatoes make the perfect vessels for leftover ham. Simply bake Russet or sweet potatoes, cut them open and fluff the insides with a fork. Then, add bite-sized pieces of the Serrano ham along with any other desired toppings like cheese, salsa, or scallions.
The saltiness of the ham complements the creamy, starchy potato beautifully. This is an easy weeknight dinner that still feels special thanks to the fancy ham.
5. Toss it With Pasta
For an easy pasta dinner, simply toss cubed ham with hot pasta and a little olive oil or butter. I like to use short cut pasta shapes like farfalle or penne, but any variety will work.
You can also add peas, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach or other veggies to make it a one-pan meal. The saltiness of the ham flavors the entire dish, so you need little else in terms of seasoning. Simply finish with black pepper, Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of lemon.
6. Make a Ham, Apple & Cheese Board
Put together a gourmet cheese board using your leftover Serrano ham. Arrange sliced ham with wedges of fruity cheese like brie or camembert along with apple and pear slices. Add crackers, nuts, and grapes to round out the board.
This makes an easy appetizer for a cocktail party or weekend gathering. The sweetness of the fruit pairs perfectly with the salty ham and creamy cheese for a balance of flavors.
7. Bake It Into a Quiche
For a savory brunch dish, add diced Serrano ham to a veggie or Lorraine quiche. Simply make your favorite quiche recipe, folding in the ham with any other additions like spinach, onions or mushrooms.
The quiche bakes up with the ham dispersed throughout for bites of salty flavor in every forkful. Quiche also reheats well, so any leftovers make an easy grab-and-go breakfast or snack during the week.
8. Fold It Into an Omelette
For an easy breakfast or dinner, make an omelette filled with Serrano ham, cheese, and veggies. I like to use a combination of cheddar and gruyere, but any melty cheese will work.
Sauté any omelette fillings like onions, peppers or mushrooms first, then fold in the ham and cheese just before sliding the omelette onto a plate. The salty ham elevates the entire dish.
9. Make Serrano Ham Croquettes
For an impressive tapas-style appetizer, whip up some Serrano ham croquettes. To make them, combine cubed ham with mashed potato, egg, flour and breadcrumbs.
Shape into small cylinders, coat in breadcrumbs and fry until crispy. These savory, fried nuggets make a perfect party snack served with aioli or romesco sauce for dipping. They reheat well, so are also great for quick weeknight dinners.
10. Toss with Pasta Salad
Finally, one of the easiest ways to use up Serrano ham is to add it to pasta salads. Fold diced ham into cold penne, rotini or farfalle pasta along with your favorite fresh veggies and Italian dressing.
Some great additions include cucumbers, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, scallions, olives, artichoke hearts, hard boiled eggs or crumbled feta. The ham adds a salty, meaty flavor that takes the salad to the next level.
So there you have it – 10 creative ways to make the most of your leftover Serrano ham. With its distinctive flavor, the possibilities are endless. From soups and sandwiches to tapas and salads, you can give any dish a gourmet twist with just a few bites of this Spanish delicacy. What will you cook up with your Serrano ham leftovers?
How to Use the Jamón Fat
When you start slicing your jamón, you’ll notice there are large strips of fat that are seemingly inedible. There are different pieces that can be used for different things. Some will help protect the jamón and keep it from drying out. Just make sure you discard any of the dark or overly yellowed pieces. They are usually very tough and have a bitter, unpleasant flavor.
Sometimes, when you make a stew or soup, you add the jamón fat to the sofrito, which is a mix of onions, garlic, and other things you’re using. This will release lots of tasty fat and flavor into the dish. When the soup is done, just take out the fat pieces like you would a bay leaf and throw them away.
You can also render the fat and use it to give your favorite snacks and meals a big jamón flavor. To render the fat, put a few pieces of fat in a skillet with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Cook on low heat until the fat slowly comes out.
You can fry eggs in this jamón oil, drizzle it over french fries and potato chips, put it on top of a homemade jamón pizza, or make fancy tomato and garlic toasts. We also love to drizzle it over pasta and rice dishes.
How to Use Last Bits of Jamón (Taquitos)
After cutting off all the whole slices of jamón, you’ll see that the ham leg still has a lot of meat on it. It’s just not thick enough or the right shape to get the right mix of meat, marbling, and paper-thin texture.
But those hard to reach spots are full of flavor and possibilities. We cut those spots out with a short, strong knife in Spain and then chop them into small bites called taquitos. These little bits of ham go well with a lot of different dishes. A lot of them are very traditional and can be found on tapas menus.
One of the most common tapas you can make with leftover jamón are croquettes, or croquetas. Croquettes are made from a variety of leftover ingredients, from spinach to cheese to shredded chicken. But the most common (and definitely the best) is jamón. By adding the ham to a bechamel-like croqueta filling, you make the balls, coat them in bread crumbs, and fry them until they’re golden brown.
A cool tomato dish called salmorejo is one of the best ways to beat the summer heat in southern Spain. Even though some people might call it “thick gazpacho” at first glance, the taste and texture are different enough to make it stand out.
You essentially take ripe, summertime tomatoes and blend them with garlic, bread, extra-virgin olive oil, and salt. What you get is a thick and creamy emulsion of Spanish flavor.
The best part? It’s traditionally topped with those tasty taquitos of jamón. Check out our recipe for salmorejo.
Spanish people eat a lot of egg dishes, but most of the time they eat them for lunch and dinner. You can mix those ham bits into scrambled eggs, a Spanish potato tortilla, a quiche, or a frittata. They’ll soften up and add superb little bursts of flavor to any egg dish.
There’s nothing better than the earthy, nutty flavor of 10% Ibérico de Bellota jam to bring a vegetable dish to life. Anyone who has tried Iberian ham on vegetables will agree that it makes them taste better. But there are some traditional Spanish dishes that really make it shine.
Artichokes, whether they are fresh and steamed, fried, or straight from the jar, work beautifully alongside jamón. Asparagus are also another classic combination. You should definitely add some jamón to a jar of specialty white asparagus from Spain if you can get your hands on one.
Try out mushrooms of all kinds, summer squash, or even simple sauteed spinach and garlic with jamón taquitos.
To make vegetables with jamón bits, cook the vegetables in a pan and add the jamón just before they’re done. The ham only needs to be warmed up and maybe even a little crispy. Be careful not to burn it.
How to Carve Serrano Ham – Costco Serrano Ham (Jamón ibérico) Carving!
What can I cook with a leftover ham bone?
Adding a leftover ham bone to veggie-packed cabbage soup gives it a flavor boost. This hearty soup is both wonderfully hearty and fresh at the same time, with tomatoes, white beans, and cabbage. The star of this dish is the cabbage.
What are the best healthy leftover ham recipes?
The ham and cheddar zucchini frittata is one of the best healthy leftover ham recipes mentioned in the article. It’s packed with hidden veggies and has amazing flavor, yet it’s seriously easy to make. Just mix the ingredients together, pour into a skillet, and bake. Another option is the Ham and Cheese Hashbrown Casserole.
What to do with leftover ham & cheese?
1. Leftover Ham and Cheese Waffles A fluffy and savory waffle made with ham, cheese and green onions in the mix! A great way to have a unique waffle. 2. Leftover Ham and Egg Breakfast Casserole An amazing breakfast casserole that has bread cubes soaked in a flavorful egg and milk mixture. Great make-ahead breakfast that is easy to prepare! 3.
What can I make with leftover ham and pasta?
You can make a cheesy ham pasta dish with leftover ham, peas, carrots, bowtie pasta, and cheese sauce. This 20-minute recipe is beyond ordinary, as it is creamy, cheesy, and nutritious. For a complete meal, serve this ham pasta with a salad or French bread on the side.