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–+ servings
Ham & Hot Fruit Salad
Ham & Hot Fruit Salad is a retro-style casserole dish that perfectly combines savory and sweet. Popular in mid-century American households, this dish layers ham steaks with canned fruits like pineapple, apricots, and peaches, then tops them with a buttery curry-infused brown sugar glaze. The blend of curry and fruit was a beloved trend during the 1950s-70s, offering a warming, exotic twist to traditional meat dishes. It’s great for holidays, potlucks, or even as a unique twist to a weeknight dinner. The ham can be omitted to serve as a standalone hot fruit salad, ideal for vegetarians or a dessert-style side.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 485 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 ham steaks (one-inch thick )
  • 1 can sliced pineapple (drained)
  • 16 oz apricot halves (drained)
  • 1 can pear halves (drained)
  • 1 can peach halves (drained)
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prep Casserole

  • Place ham steaks in a large casserole dish.
  • Layer the drained canned fruits over the ham.

Step 2: Make Curry Sauce

  • In a small saucepan, melt butter.
  • Add curry powder and cook for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
  • Stir in brown sugar and cornstarch.
  • Bubble together until thickened.

Step 3: Assemble and Bake

  • Drizzle curry mixture over the fruit and ham.
  • Cover the dish with foil.
  • Bake at 350°F for 1 hour.

Step 4: Optional Vegetarian Version

  • Omit ham and prepare the dish with just fruit and curry sauce for a hot fruit salad.

Tips

  • Use fruit canned in juice instead of syrup to reduce sweetness.
  • Add maraschino cherries for a colorful retro presentation.
  • Substitute smoked sausage or pork loin for the ham steaks.
  • Add a splash of orange juice to the curry sauce for brightness.
  • Mix in a handful of raisins or dried apricots before baking.
  • For a thicker sauce, increase cornstarch to 3 tablespoons.
  • To make the dish savory, reduce sugar by half and add a pinch of salt.
  • Serve with rice or buttered egg noodles to make it a full meal.
  • Make it meatless by omitting ham (as the handwritten note suggests).
  • Add a sprinkle of toasted pecans on top after baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 485kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 18gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 980mgPotassium: 520mgFiber: 4gSugar: 54gVitamin A: 620IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 1.2mg
Keyword casserole, comfort food, fruit bake, Ham, ham dinner, old-fashioned recipes, retro holiday dish, sweet and savory, vintage recipe
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