The “Classic Counter” Woolworth’s Ham Salad

This recipe recreates that signature balance of salty ham, sweet relish, and the sharp “bite” of yellow mustard.

Category	Details
Prep Time	10 minutes
Chill Time	1 hour (Essential)
Total Time	1 hour 10 mins
Yield	4–6 servings

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🍴 Ingredients

• 3 cups Cooked ham, cubed (smoked or honey-baked works great)
• 2 Hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped
• ½ cup Celery, very finely diced
• ¼ cup Sweet pickle relish (well-drained)
• ½ cup Mayonnaise (use a high-quality brand like Hellmann’s/Best Foods)
• 1 tbsp Yellow mustard
• 1 tsp Onion powder
• ½ tsp Black pepper (omit extra salt—the ham is usually salty enough!)

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. The Fine Pulse

• Place the cubed ham in a food processor. Pulse 8–10 times until the ham is finely minced but still has texture. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.

2. The Crunch Factor

• Add the finely diced celery and the chopped hard-boiled eggs. The eggs are the “Woolworth’s Secret”—they add a creaminess that binds the ham together without needing excessive mayo.

3. The Dressing

• In a small separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, sweet relish, onion powder, and pepper.
• The “Drain” Tip: Press your relish into a paper towel before adding it. If the relish is too wet, the salad will “weep” in the fridge and become watery.

4. The Fold

• Pour the dressing over the ham mixture. Fold gently with a spatula until every morsel is coated.

5. The Marriage

• Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. This is a non-negotiable step. Cold ham salad tastes significantly better as the spices have time to hydrate and the fats in the mayo firm up.