If you’ve got leftover Christmas ham sitting in the fridge and no interest in another ham sandwich, this classic Russian salad (also known as Olivier salad) is the Boxing Day reset you want.
It’s creamy without being heavy, fresh thanks to lemon and dill, and perfect for BBQs, lunches, or easy entertaining. Best of all, it’s built to use up leftover Christmas ham so nothing goes to waste.
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Recipe images
Serves, prep & cook time
- Serves: 4–6
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 eggs, boiled and diced
- 1–2 cups leftover Christmas ham, diced
- 2 carrots, boiled and diced
- 6–8 kipfler potatoes, boiled and diced
- ½ cup cornichons (small pickles), diced
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ½ cup whole-egg mayonnaise
- Handful of fresh dill, finely chopped
- Salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
Method
- Dice all ingredients into even-sized pieces for the best texture.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, ham, eggs and cornichons to a large mixing bowl.
- Spoon in the mayonnaise and add the lemon juice.
- Season with salt and cracked black pepper.
- Add the chopped dill and gently fold everything together until well combined.
- Taste and adjust — add more lemon, dill or mayonnaise if needed.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavour.
Serving tips
- Serve chilled as a Boxing Day side dish.
- Perfect alongside BBQ meats, seafood, or roast chicken.
- Keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Why this works for leftover Christmas ham
This salad balances the rich, salty flavour of ham with fresh herbs, acidity from lemon, and the soft bite of potatoes and carrots. It turns festive leftovers into something that feels brand new — without feeling like reheated Christmas.
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