Why This Budget-Friendly Ham and Potato Casserole Has Become a Kitchen Staple
In short: Transforming a simple bone-in ham into a creamy, cheesy masterpiece is the ultimate comfort food hack. By layering thinly sliced potatoes with savory ham, peas, and a rich sauce infused with bacon fat and mustard, you create a hearty meal that is as perfect for meal prepping as it is for crowds.
The secret to this classic comfort dish lies in the balance of textures and the depth of the sauce. The foundation begins with 1 Kg of thinly sliced baking potatoes and a large onion, which provide the structural base for the casserole. The sauce is where the complexity emerges; it starts by melting bacon fat in a pan, followed by a roux of flour and 10 mL of dry mustard. This mixture is whisked with milk and 250 mL of 35% heavy cream, simmered for one or two minutes until it reaches the ideal consistency.
Assembly is a deliberate process of layering flavors. A portion of the potato mixture is poured into an oven-proof pan, followed by layers of 500 mL of frozen peas, 500 mL of cubed ham, and a generous amount of cheese. The recipe calls for 350g of a good melting cheese—such as pizza mozzarella, Monterey jack, or Wisconsin brick—alongside 180g of a hard cheese like parmesan. This combination ensures a rich, gooey interior and a perfectly browned, crispy top layer once the dish is uncovered during the final stage of baking.
This dish is highly adaptable, making it a favorite for those looking to utilize leftovers or capitalize on grocery store deals, such as finding a bone-in ham for as little as $8 CAD. The casserole is baked at 190ºC, or 375ºF, until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is golden. Whether you refer to it as a potato gratin, a ham and scalloped potato bake, or simply a comfort food casserole, the dish remains a reliable crowd-pleaser that excels as a make-ahead freezer meal for busy schedules.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Turns Out Everyone’s Been Making This Ham Dish—We Just Found Out Why!
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