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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes and Drinks » Side Dishes » Ensalada de Coditos con Jamón

    Published: Jul 21, 2022 Modified: Jul 21, 2022 by Catherine Arena 3 Comments

    Ensalada de Coditos con Jamón

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    This Puerto Rican Ensalada de Coditos con Jamón (Macaroni Pasta with Ham) is deliciously creamy and perfect as a side for dinner, entertaining and of course a weekend BBQ!

    Ensalada de Coditos con Jamon ( Macaroni Salad with Ham) served in a white salad bowl and a glass salad bowl.

    In the U.S., cold pasta salads are usually thought of as summer food, but in Latin and Hispanic culture, that’s not the case. In Puerto Rican homes, cold salads are enjoyed all year long, whether it’s a casual dinner or a holiday feast.

    For example, Ensalada de Papa (Potato Salad) is a staple at gatherings no matter the season. The same goes for soups and stews like Puerto Rican chicken soup (sopa de pollo), which we love to eat any time of the year, even on warm, sunny days!

    The same applies with this creamy ensalada de coditos con jamon! This Puerto Rican pasta dish is enjoyed anytime and is a must-have at holiday celebrations. Served alongside classics like pernil asado (roast pork shoulder) and pavochon (Puerto Rican style turkey).

    Jump to:
    • Reasons to Love this Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Other Side Dishes You Will Love
    • 📖 Recipe

    Reasons to Love this Recipe

    • Versatile – Perfect as a side dish for the holidays, BBQ’s or everyday meals, it’s a hit with kids and adults alike.
    • Quick and Easy – Just like our other macaroni salad, ensalada de coditos, this recipe is also made with simple ingredients, minimal prep and comes together in no time!
    • Make Ahead – Perfect to make ahead, especially beneficial when you have several dishes to prepare and cook.
    • Delicious – The creamy mayo dressing, pasta and ham combine just perfectly. Yum!

    Ingredients

    • elbow, shell, bowtie, rotini or mini penne pasta
    • green bell pepper
    • red bell pepper
    • red onion
    • ham steak

    For the Salad Dressing

    • mayonnaise
    • sour cream
    • garlic paste
    • lemon juice
    • fresh cilantro
    • salt and pepper

    See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Veggies: You can add different veggies like peas, broccoli, scallions, shredded carrots, and celery.
    • Cheese: Add chunks of cheese like cheddar or Monterey Jack cubes.
    • Meat: Add crumbled bacon, turkey and chicken cubes are all delicious additions.
    • Pasta: Other delicious pasta ideas are penne, bowtie, rotini or shells.

    Here is another delicious cold pasta salad using “Bowtie Pasta” by Jill from Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons.

    Instructions

    Steps 1-4 to make Ensalada de Coditos con Jamón (Macaroni Pasta with Ham).

    Pasta

    Step 1: Cook the pasta per the box instructions. Rinse and drain under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add about a tablespoon of oil and stir to prevent the pasta from clumping. Then set aside.

    Salad Dressing and Mixing

    Step 2: Add the chopped cilantro, mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice and garlic to a glass bowl. Whisk or stir together to combine the ingredients well (Image 1). Season the salad dressing with a little bit of salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

    Step 3: Add the pasta, chopped veggies and ham to a bowl (Image 2). Top with the dressing and stir to combine well (Images 3 and 4). Taste for additional salt and pepper.

    Serving the Salad

    The salad is ready and can be served right away or refrigerate it for an hour or two. Chilling the salad enhances the flavors and allows them to meld.

    Ensalada de Coditos con Jamon ( Macaroni Salad with Ham) served in a white salad bowl and a glass salad bowl.

    Expert Tips

    • Don’t Overcook Pasta – Cook the pasta al dente. Overcooking it will make it mushy especially once added to with the dressing.
    • Dice Evenly – Dice the vegetables and meat evenly for the best uniform texture and presentation.
    • Chill – For the best tasting salad, let it chill for at least one to two hours.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I make this salad ahead of time?

    Yes, this salad is even better made a few hours or a day in advance so that the flavors have time to meld together.

    How long does the salad last in the refrigerator?

    The salad is best when eaten within 3 days. To freshens it up, add a little more dressing or simply a little mayo.

    How do I store the ensalada?

    To store, simply cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    What can I use instead of ham?

    Use cooked turkey, chicken, and tuna make delicious alternatives.

    Other Side Dishes You Will Love

    • Macarrones con Queso (macaroni and cheese) baked in a casserole with a small serving on the side.
      Macarrones con Queso
    • Ensalada de Pasta Fría served in a clear transparent bowl.
      Ensalada de Pasta Fría
    • Ensalada de Bacalao served in a white platter with a side of yuca and avocado.
      Ensalada de Bacalao
    • Escabeche de Guineos served in two separate bowls.
      Escabeche de Guineos (Guineitos)

    Did you try this recipe? Please leave a ⭐ review below!

    Click any of the images in the post to PIN this Recipe and don’t forget to follow along on Pinterest and Facebook.

    📖 Recipe

    Ensalada de Coditos con Jamon (Macaroni Salad with Ham) served in a white salad bowl and a glass salad bowl.

    Ensalada de Coditos con Jamón

    This Ensalada de Coditos (Macaroni Pasta with Ham) is deliciously creamy and perfect as a side for dinner, entertaining and of course a weekend BBQ!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Puerto Rican
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 209kcal
    Author: Catherine Arena

    Ingredients

    • ½ lb elbow pasta cooked
    • ½ small green bell pepper rinsed and chopped
    • ½ small red bell pepper rinsed and chopped
    • ½ small red onion chopped
    • 1 cup ham steak cubed
    • 1-2 tablespoon vegetable oil

    For Salad Dressing

    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro rinsed and finely chopped
    • 1¼ tablespoon lemon juice about ½ lemon depending on size
    • 1-2 teaspoon garlic paste
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    Cooking Pasta

    • Cook the pasta per box instructions. Rinse and drain under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add about a tablespoon of oil and stir to prevent the pasta from clumping. Then set aside.

    Salad Dressing

    • Add the chopped cilantro, mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice and garlic to a glass bowl. Whisk or stir together to combine the ingredients well. Season the salad dressing with a little bit of salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
    • Add the pasta, chopped veggies and ham to a bowl. Top with the dressing and stir to combine well. Taste and adjust for additional salt and pepper if needed.

    Serving

    • The salad is ready and can be served right away or refrigerate it for an hour or two. Chilling the salad enhances the flavors and allows them to meld.

    Notes

    Garlic Paste
    If you do not have homemade garlic paste, add two garlic cloves to a mortar and pestle and mash until paste forms. Add a teaspoon and a half of olive or vegetable oil and mix. 
    You can also use a mini chopper if you do not have a mortar and pestle as well as finely mince garlic and then carefully mash with the back of a heavy-duty knife.
    For Salad Variations
    You can personalize this salad to suit your own taste.
    Some additional variations include:
    • peas
    • thinly sliced fresh broccoli
    • chopped scallions
    • shredded carrots
    • chopped celery
    • chopped boiled eggs
    • cheese cubes like cheddar
    • use different shapes of pasta

    Nutrition

    Serving: 8 | Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 498mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Click the stars above or below to rate or leave a comment down below!

    More Side Dishes

    • Arroz a la Jardinera (Arroz con Vegetales) cooked in a cast aluminum pot, (caldero), a side of olives and a serving of rice.
      Arroz a la Jardinera
    • Dip de Pollo
    • Relleno de Mofongo (Mofongo Stuffing) served in a white casserole with Christmas decor beside it.
      Relleno de Mofongo
    • Arroz con Carne cooked in a caldero and a separate plate of rice on a small white plate.
      Arroz con Carne

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    Comments

    1. Nena says

      February 02, 2024 at 7:24 pm

      Amazing recipe! Absolutely delicious. I played with the amounts of each ingredient to taste, and definitely added more ham to it, but this recipe is great.

      Reply
    2. Felix says

      November 25, 2023 at 7:35 am

      Delicious!!!

      Reply
      • Catherine Arena says

        November 27, 2023 at 7:12 pm

        Glad to hear you enjoyed it Felix!

        Reply
    5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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