What to Serve with Smoked Gammon: 9 Easy Sides

Smoked gammon is usually served with mashed potatoes or cabbage, but it can also be served with fried potatoes or carrots, or you could even go with a salad like a coleslaw or fruit salad.

Gosh, we love smoked gammon at my house.

We could eat it for days and not get bored. And one way to make it even more delicious is to serve it with plenty of sides (check also: what side dish to serve with gammon).

These 9 easy sides do just that.

They make the perfect accompaniment to smoked gammon, and fill you up leaving you with no room for pud!

What to Serve with Smoked Gammon: 9 Easy Sides

Smoked gammon is one of those party snacks that people either love or hate.

Those who love it are always looking for sides to go with it, but many are confused about what exactly goes well with smoked gammon.

There are many options out there, and none of them need to be complicated.

The following easy sides will give you some ideas to choose from when you’re at the store.

1. Honey Glazed Carrots

Smoked gammon is sweet, savory, and incredibly pungent—with a distinct smokey flavor that comes from its curing method.

This means it can easily overpower other dishes on your plate if the flavors aren’t well-balanced.

The sweetness and savory smokiness of smoked gammon complement the earthy natural sweetness of honey glazed carrots perfectly, giving you an amazing alternative to simply choosing a vegetable (click here to learn what veg to serve with gammon) that complements the gammon’s savory qualities.

The natural sugar in honey brings out the sweetness of the carrots themselves and contrasts beautifully with the smokiness of the meat.

In addition, it provides perfect balance to the saltiness of the meat, because many smoked dishes are very high in sodium.

This combination of flavors gives you a balanced meal where you can truly taste each element.

2. Roasted Vegetables

Roasted vegetables make for a delectable complement to smoked gammon because the gammon’s smoky flavor is not overbearing, yet it still packs a lot of punch!

This means that you can pair it with something that’s equally assertive (like roasted vegetables) without overwhelming your palate.

3. Potato salad

It’s no secret why smoked gammon is often paired with potato salad—it’s because the combination is incredible.

The juicy, salty pork is balanced by the creamy, starchy potatoes that are usually mixed with spicy mustard and tangy vinegar in a potato salad.

While pairing smoked gammon with other dishes might seem like a natural idea—after all, it’s a classic dish that goes well with many other classic dishes—there are plenty of reasons why you should stick to the combination of potato salad and smoked gammon.

One reason why these two foods go so well together is that they complement each other’s flavors so well.

A good potato salad will have just the right amount of saltiness and tanginess to offset the smokiness of the gammon.

This balance of flavors means that you won’t have to worry about your meal being too one-note or bland.

Another reason this combination works so well is that both foods are easy to make ahead of time, which means less work for you when you’re preparing dinner!

This is especially helpful if you’re hosting a big event: you can prepare both foods in advance and then just sit back and enjoy your company while they eat.

4. Coleslaw

It’s time to stop looking at your coleslaw as just a side dish.

It’s so much more than that. Coleslaw can be your new favorite thing!

And we’re not just talking about the kind of coleslaw you get at your local barbeque joint—we mean the kind of coleslaw that works as an accompaniment to so many things, including smoked gammon.

That’s right: coleslaw. As in “that thing on the side.”

Coleslaw is one of those dishes with endless possibilities., and it can be made in so many different ways.

You can make it creamy or chunky, you can use different kinds of cabbage (we love using red cabbage), you can add some spice to it by throwing in some jalapenos, and you can even sweeten it up a little bit by adding some raisins or other dried fruit!

As far as we’re concerned, there are only two requirements for making a good coleslaw: Shredded cabbage, and a super-yummy dressing.

If you’ve never tried pairing coleslaw with smoked gammon before, then you’re missing out!

5. Mashed potatoes

If you’re cooking up a smoked gammon for a special occasion, why not make your feast even more memorable with a side of mashed potatoes?

Mashed potatoes are a classic pairing for gammon, and it’s easy to understand why. Gammon is rich, salty, and filling—but it’s also a little sweet.

Mashed potatoes are mild, creamy, and buttery—they’re the perfect thing to serve alongside gammon to make sure the meat isn’t too overpowering.

6. Roasted Brussel Sprouts

When you think about pairing side dishes with smoked gammon, you probably think of the usual suspects: roasted potatoes, sauteed green beans, or a nice corn pudding.

But why not try something new?

Roasted brussel sprouts are a great choice.

They complement the gammon’s smoky flavor and give it some healthy competition in the texture department.

You can serve them on the side of a roast gammon, or even chop them up and toss them around in the pan with some cubed gammon for a one-pan dish.

If you’re looking to punch up their flavor, try roasting them with bacon!

7. Roasted Asparagus with Lemon and Parmesan

If you’re looking for the perfect side dish to serve alongside smoked gammon, try making roasted asparagus with lemon and parmesan.

It’s a quick, easy recipe that complements the smoky flavor of the meat just perfectly.

It’s almost like it was made to go together!

1. First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Then snap off the ends of 1 pound of fresh asparagus, and trim away any tough or woody parts.
3. Lay out the spears on a baking sheet (you may need two depending on how many you’re serving), drizzle them with olive oil or butter, and then sprinkle on salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.
4. Roast for about 8-10 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
5. While the asparagus is roasting, squeeze half a lemon into a small bowl and grate 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese.
6. When the asparagus is done, transfer it to a serving dish and top with lemon juice and parmesan cheese.

8. Cucumber Salad

While the rich, salty flavor of the gammon calls for a fresh, crunchy counterbalance, you don’t want to take away from the main attraction.

Cucumber salad is cool and refreshing and won’t compete for attention with your smoked gammon.

It’s quick to make and very simple—just slice up some cucumbers, add some cream cheese, mayo, and sour cream and season with salt, pepper, and parsley or celery leaves.

Serve chilled alongside your freshly-smoked gammon and enjoy!

9. Pasta salad

Pasta salad can be paired with smoked gammon because the two foods have similar flavors.

Most pasta salads are made with mayonnaise and have some type of vegetable in them, which means they’re very rich in flavor.

Smoked gammon is usually served with potatoes, so they both have similar flavors as well.

Pasta salad also goes well with other dishes you might serve at a barbecue or picnic, such as chicken wings and potato salad.

However, it may not be the best choice for a more formal meal.

5 Benefits of Serving Side Dishes with Smoked Gammon

Side dishes are often the best part of a meal, and you can make sure that your guests enjoy their time at your dinner party even more by going above and beyond with the food that you serve.

Smoked gammon is a delicious and versatile dish, but it’s also one that can pair well with many other foods.

Here are 5 benefits of serving side dishes with smoked gammon when you want to host an impressive dinner party:

1. It Offers an Exceptional Flavor and Texture to Your Side Dishes

A smoky and sweet taste, brings a distinct character to your favorite side dishes.

The moistness and tenderness of ham, is often appreciated by guests of all ages.

These flavors will add a touch of elegance to your next table setting!

2. It’ll Make Your Guests Feel Well-Taken Care Of

When you serve smoked gammon alongside a variety of side dishes, your guests will feel as though they’re being well taken care of.

They might feel as though it’s difficult to fill up on just smoked gammon alone, but with several sides for them to choose from, they’ll be able to have as much or as little food as they’d like.

This can make your guests feel happy and satisfied throughout the night.

3. Surprise Your Guests

Who doesn’t love a surprise? You’re already serving ham, which is pretty standard for Christmas dinner, so why not surprise everyone by pairing it with something new and unexpected?

It’s a great way to shake things up and keep people on their toes.

4. It’s A Good Way To Use Leftover Food

You’re going to have leftovers from the holidays, so why not put them to good use?

That’s the whole idea behind serving side dishes with smoked gammon: it gives you an opportunity to repurpose those leftovers.

And who doesn’t love a little extra bang for their buck?

5. Express Yourself

Side dishes are an expression of your creativity!

If you want to throw caution to the wind and make a mashup of two different side dishes that no one else has ever thought of, go for it!

You do you—and let your food show off how unique and amazing you are.