When you crave an honest, creamy, and perfectly balanced salad that smells like it came from the best old-school patisserie and is perfect for homemade open-faced sandwiches or fresh bread, forget about store-bought tubs. Skip the skimpy ready-mades—this traditional homemade delicacy salad with ham sausage, pickled cucumbers, peas, onion, and a rich mayonnaise dressing with Worcestershire sauce is the absolute top, and it disappears from the table in no time. The secret to success lies in slicing the ingredients into thin strips, preparing a precisely seasoned brine, and letting the salad rest thoroughly in the fridge.
What you’ll need for a big bowl of goodness:
Main salad ingredients:
- Ham sausage: 400 g (cut into thin strips)
- Pickled cucumbers: 180 g (cut into the same thin strips)
- Canned peas: 55 g (well drained)
- Onion: 25 g (finely chopped)
For the rich mayonnaise dressing and seasoning:
- Quality mayonnaise: 300 g (homemade mayonnaise works great for a fuller flavor)
- Full-fat mustard: 20 g
- Granulated sugar: 10 g
- Vinegar: 6 g
- Worcestershire sauce: 8 g
- Salt: 5 g (or to taste)
- Black pepper: a pinch of ground pepper
For serving:
- Bread: fresh rolls or baguette for homemade open sandwiches
- Garnish: slices of pickled cucumber, fresh parsley, or boiled egg
Step-by-step preparation:
1. Precise preparation of ingredients: Cut the ham sausage into thin strips. Slice the pickled cucumbers into equally thin strips (julienne), and finely chop the onion. Drain the canned peas thoroughly in a sieve.
2. Making the seasoned mayonnaise base: In a large bowl, place the sliced cucumbers, drained peas, and chopped onion. Add the mayonnaise, full-fat mustard, granulated sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix everything thoroughly so the liquid and spicy ingredients blend into a delicious dressing.
3. Gently folding in the sausage: Finally, add the sliced ham sausage to the prepared base and gently fold everything together with a spatula, so the sausage pieces stay intact and the mixture remains fluffy.
4. Seasoning and essential resting: Taste the salad and adjust with a pinch of salt or pepper if needed. Cover the bowl with foil and place it in the fridge for at least one hour, ideally overnight—during this time, the flavors will blend perfectly and the salad will develop its typical fresh aroma.
5. Serving and festive presentation: Serve with fresh bread or as a spread for homemade open-faced sandwiches. For a beautiful look, decorate the top with a fan of cucumber slices, a sprig of parsley, or a piece of boiled egg.
Proven tips for a perfect result:
- Cutting into thin strips: Keeping the same thickness for the sausage and cucumbers ensures every bite has the perfect texture.
- The role of Worcestershire sauce: Adding Worcestershire gives the delicacy salad that authentic traditional flavor that makes it a classic.
- Patience with resting: Let the salad rest properly in the fridge—the flavors will blend beautifully and the texture will be nicely compact.
