Ensalada De Coditos Con Jamón
Do you love pasta? Then you absolutely have to try the Puerto Rican dish of ensalada de coditos con jamón, aka macaroni and ham salad. It tastes delicious of course, but the other great thing about it is, you can add all sorts of ingredients depending on your preferences! It’s a truly versatile meal that everyone you serve it to will love.
You Can Switch Up The Ingredients
While this dish is “supposed” to be made with macaroni, you can use any kind of pasta you like. If you’re a vegetarian you can take out the ham. And so on! Although the recipe is printed below, you don’t have to follow it to the letter. You can add things!
Why This Pasta Salad Works
This is no ordinary macaroni salad. It’s creamy, with a gentle hint of spice, plus salty snippets of diced ham and cheesy goodness in every bite. Better yet, the main ingredient, macaroni, is probably already in your cupboards.
Ingredients
- 450 g dried pasta – macaroni, fusilli, or cavatappi
- 220 g cooked ham, finely diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 240 ml mayonnaise (1 cup)
- 1 cup small-diced Monterey Jack cheese
- 120 ml sour cream (1/2 cup)
- 60 ml white vinegar (1/4 cup) – the secret blender
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp paprika (adds color and mild spice)
- ½ tsp sugar (balances the acidity)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Ingredients
For a healthier and more colorful meal, you can add the following things:
- 1 medium red bell pepper, small-diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 medium green bell pepper, small-diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 medium stalks celery, small-diced (about 3/4 cup)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pickled jalapeños
- 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeño brine
How to Make Ensalada De Coditos Con Jamón
This is a really easy meal to make. You don’t have to set aside a lot of time for it, it can be done in a couple of hours, and then you can spend the rest of the day relaxing and looking forward to your meal. If you have kids, this is also a great recipe to start them out with if you want them to learn to cook!
Whisk Together the Dressing
In a bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, Dijon mustard, paprika, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth. The vinegar not only adds to the flavor but helps the dressing cling to the warm pasta, infusing each noodle with deliciousness.
Add the Optional Ingredients
Skip this step if you don’t want them! But here is where you add the optional ingredients. Put in the diced red peppers, diced green peppers, celery and the jalapeños.
Coat the Warm Pasta
Pour the dressing over the boiled pasta and stir gently until each piece is coated. The warmth allows the pasta to absorb the tang, locking in flavor, a technique that professional chefs love. You may not be a professional, but now you know one of their tricks!
Add Diced Ham
Once the pasta is coated in dressing and still slightly warm, it's time to add the diced ham. This is what brings heartiness and depth to the whole dish. Use fully cooked ham, either from leftovers or deli slices, and cut it into small, bite-sized pieces so it mixes evenly.
Chill and Let Flavors Meld
Once you’re done, transfer the salad to an airtight container or large bowl. Let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least one hour, or overnight, to let the flavors develop. It’s the chill time that transforms this into the perfect dish for summer.
Why Vinegar Is a Game Changer
Adding vinegar into the warm pasta is what makes this salad work best. According to pasta salad experts (of which there are more than you’d think!), this method permeates every noodle with tang, rather than the flavor just coating the outside.
You Can Switch Out The Meat
If you’re looking to shake things up, you can swap the ham for cooked and crumbled bacon, shredded rotisserie chicken, or even smoked turkey for a twist. Just make sure whatever you use is fully cooked and cooled slightly before adding.
Nutritional Snapshot (approximate)
Per serving:
- Calories: ~300 kcal
- Fat: ~18 g (depending on mayo/sour cream)
- Carbohydrates: ~25 g
- Protein: ~10 g
- Sodium: moderate (from ham and mayo)
Serving Suggestions
This pasta salad is wonderfully versatile. It makes a great side dish for grilled chicken, burgers, or fish, or you can serve it with a side of tortilla chips. At potlucks or family dinners, it’s bound to be the main attraction no matter what anyone else brings.
Conclusion
This pasta salad is a success because of its simplicity, but it’s also ideal for people working on budgets. Buy the pasta in bulk and you could be well set for weeks to come. One batch of ensalada de coditos con jamón is never enough - once friends and family get a taste, it becomes a must‑make all summer long, and now you know how to do it!
