Creamy Pasta and Ham Gratin (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Base ingredients
01 -
300g pasta (tortiglioni or your favorite tube pasta)
02 -
200g cooked ham, cut into small cubes
03 -
1 medium onion, finely diced
04 -
1 garlic clove, minced
→ Creamy sauce
05 -
1 tablespoon butter
06 -
250g heavy cream
07 -
2 medium egg yolks
08 -
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
09 -
1 teaspoon vegetable bouillon powder
10 -
150g grated cheese (a mix of mozzarella and cheddar works well)
11 -
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
12 -
A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
# Instructions:
01 -
Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente (about 2 minutes less than package instructions). Meanwhile, finely dice the onion and mince the garlic. Cut the ham into small, bite-sized cubes.
02 -
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onions and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the cubed ham and sauté briefly just to warm through and release flavor.
03 -
In a bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, egg yolks, grated Parmesan, and vegetable bouillon powder. Season generously with black pepper, a little salt (the ham and cheese are already salty), and a pinch of nutmeg for warmth.
04 -
Drain the pasta and add it to a greased baking dish. Mix in the ham and onion mixture, then pour the cream sauce over everything, stirring gently to combine. Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the top. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 20-30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
# Notes:
01 -
This is a crowd-pleasing, family-friendly recipe that even picky eaters tend to love.
02 -
The dish can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking - just add 5-10 minutes to the baking time if coming straight from the fridge.