Spiral hams are known for their salty and convenient nature, making them a fantastic centerpiece for various meals. Their saltiness allows them to pair beautifully with a wide array of side dishes, from fresh and vibrant salads to rich and creamy gratins. The convenience of ham also means you have more time to focus on creating the perfect accompaniments. To truly enhance your ham dinner, consider incorporating a variety of sides that offer contrasting textures and flavors – something creamy to balance the saltiness, something fresh to cleanse the palate, and perhaps a more sophisticated dish to impress your guests.
Here’s a curated selection of exceptional side dishes to serve with ham, guaranteed to elevate your dining experience:
Fresh and Vibrant Sides
To cut through the richness of ham, fresh and vibrant sides are essential. They bring lightness and brightness to the meal, preventing it from feeling too heavy.
Minty Radishes and Snap Peas
Move beyond traditional lettuce salads with this crisp and colorful combination. Bright green snap peas and peppery pink radishes create a refreshing salad that’s elevated with a hint of mint. For an optional touch of savory complexity, crumbled blue cheese can be added. This salad provides a wonderful textural contrast and fresh flavor that complements the richness of ham.
French Carrot Salad
Unlock the natural sweetness of carrots by shredding them! This classic French bistro salad is incredibly simple yet delightful. A light vinaigrette with mellow vinegar and fresh tarragon perfectly complements the salty ham. Feel free to customize this salad by adding toasted nuts or chopped dried fruit for extra texture and flavor dimensions. Its simplicity and bright flavors make it an ideal counterpoint to ham.
Creamy and Comforting Sides
Creamy side dishes provide a comforting contrast to the saltiness of ham, creating a balanced and satisfying meal.
Milk-Simmered Mashed Potatoes
Elevate your mashed potatoes by simmering them in milk. This technique creates a naturally creamy and luscious texture without the need for heavy cream. Cooking potatoes in milk releases their starch, resulting in a “liquid gold” that enhances the creaminess. These milk-simmered mashed potatoes are a comforting and classic side dish that perfectly balances the saltiness of ham.
Pasta with Creamy Cauliflower and Cheese Sauce
Enjoy a lighter and more sophisticated take on macaroni and cheese with this creamy cauliflower pasta. This one-pot recipe utilizes cauliflower in two ways to create a velvety, cheese-like sauce without heavy cream. The addition of rich Italian cheese provides the necessary depth of flavor, making it a comforting and delicious side that’s surprisingly light and pairs wonderfully with ham.
Vegetable-Forward Sides
Adding vegetable-based sides ensures a well-rounded and nutritious meal alongside your ham.
Asparagus with Sauce Gribiche and Fried Capers
Bring bistro flair to your table with this elegant asparagus dish. Tender-crisp asparagus is elevated with Sauce Gribiche, a tangy French sauce featuring briny capers, egg yolks, Dijon mustard, and horseradish. Fried capers add a delightful crispy garnish. The bright and bold flavors of this asparagus dish provide a sophisticated counterpoint to the richness of ham.
Butter-Roasted Carrots with Za’atar and Pomegranate Molasses
Transform simple carrots into a magical side dish with this recipe. Slow-roasting carrots brings out their natural sweetness and creates a meltingly tender texture. Browned butter adds a fragrant nuttiness, while orange zest and juice brighten the flavors. Earthy za’atar and tangy pomegranate molasses add layers of complexity. Crunchy pistachios provide a perfect finishing touch. These roasted carrots are a flavorful and visually appealing side that complements ham beautifully.
Braised Leeks with Balsamic Glaze
Experience leeks in a new way with this simple yet elegant side dish inspired by Spanish cuisine. Leeks are gently poached in olive oil until meltingly soft and then finished with a sweet and tart balsamic glaze. Toasted almonds provide a delightful crunchy contrast. This six-ingredient recipe is a testament to how simple ingredients can create extraordinary flavors, making it a sophisticated side for ham.
Broiled Asparagus with Cardamom and Orange
Infuse your asparagus with aromatic and citrusy notes with this unique recipe. Cardamom and orange zest bring floral and bright flavors to grassy asparagus. Butter adds richness and enhances the lingering flavors. Orange marmalade adds sweetness and a hint of bitterness, while fresh orange juice brightens the dish. Flaky salt provides a final touch of salinity and crunch. This broiled asparagus offers a refreshing and flavorful vegetable side that complements ham.
Starchy and Satisfying Sides
Starchy sides are essential for creating a complete and satisfying meal, providing substance and complementing the ham’s texture.
Roasted Potatoes with Gouda and Thyme
Elevate simple roasted potatoes with the addition of cheese. Crispy baked cheese adds texture and savory richness to potatoes and shallots. Aged Gouda, with its nutty and butterscotch notes, or Manchego, with its nutty and tangy sharpness, both work beautifully in this dish. Choose your favorite cheese for a comforting and flavorful potato side that pairs perfectly with ham.
Venetian Rice and Peas (Risi e Bisi)
Embrace a taste of spring with this Venetian classic. Risi e Bisi, or “rice and peas,” is a creamy yet brothy rice dish studded with sweet peas. It balances risotto-like creaminess with a soup-like consistency and savory pancetta with fresh pea flavors. This comforting and flavorful dish is a delightful and slightly unique starchy side to serve with ham.
Popovers
Add a touch of elegance to your ham dinner with perfectly popped popovers. These light and airy pastries are crispy on the outside and rich with eggy flavor inside. They are surprisingly easy to make, similar to pancakes in preparation. Follow two key tips: let the batter rest and poke holes at the end of baking. These popovers are a delightful and impressive bread side to accompany ham.
Sophisticated and Unique Sides
For a more refined meal, consider these sophisticated and unique side dishes that add a touch of elegance and intrigue.
Oeufs Mayonnaise
Think of Oeufs Mayonnaise as a more refined and French version of deviled eggs. These bistro classics feature perfectly cooked, jammy-centered eggs topped with a dollop of homemade mayonnaise. Inspired by a World Championship-level recipe, this version utilizes Dijon mustard for piquancy and emulsification, and lemon juice for brightness. Oeufs Mayonnaise offers a sophisticated and classic French touch to your ham dinner.
Lemon and Green Pea Risotto
Brighten up your meal with this vibrant lemon and green pea risotto. Lemon juice and zest elevate this dish, transforming a simple combination of butter, Parmesan cheese, and peas into something extraordinary. Fresh mint adds an extra layer of freshness. This risotto is a flavorful and elegant side dish that provides a refreshing counterpoint to ham.
By incorporating a variety of these side dishes, you can create a balanced and memorable meal that perfectly complements the salty and savory flavors of ham. Experiment with different combinations to find your personal favorites and impress your guests with a truly exceptional ham dinner.
