Scalloped potatoes and ham is a simple, hearty dish that is both nourishing to the body and comforting to the spirit. Economical and user-friendly, the casserole pairs well with any number of other items, giving home chefs a tasteful way to use up whatever they happen to have sitting in the freezer. Additionally, while the recipe outlined below uses a combination of potatoes, onions and cheese, the dish is easily altered to suit individual preferences.
Main Dish
To make scalloped potatoes and ham, coat the inside of a 2-qt. with butter. Then place 2 tbsp. of butter in a medium saucepan and melt over medium heat. Stir in 2 tbsp.of flour and cook for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to low and gradually add 2 cups of half-and-half, stirring constantly. Cook until sauce is thickened and bubbly. Stir in ½ tsp. of salt and ¼ tsp. ground black pepper. Cover sauce and set aside.
In a heavy skillet, heat 2 tbsp. of butter. When butter is melted, add 2 medium onions, sliced and separated into rings, and sauté over medium heat until they are golden brown. Spread ¼ cup of sauce in the bottom of the casserole dish. Top the sauce with 2 peeled and sliced potatoes. Spread ½ of the onions on top of the potatoes and cover the onions with 1 cup of diced, cooked ham and 1 cup of grated cheese. Sprinkle 1 clove of minced garlic on top of the cheese and then pour ½ of the remaining sauce on top. Repeat the layers: potatoes, onions, ham, cheese and garlic, and finish the dish by pouring the remaining sauce over the top. Bake at 350 F for approximately 1 hour.
Alterations
To change the recipe to suit your personal dietary preferences and palate, feel free to substitute any other vegetable for all or part of the onions, or add one additional cup of vegetables during the layering process. Popular choices include diced green peppers, broccoli and carrots. To reduce the overall fat content, you can use low-fat milk rather than half-and-half, and the cheese can be reduced by half or left out entirely.
Sides
While your scalloped potatoes and ham are baking, you can prepare your side dishes. The main course with any number of items, enabling you to choose almost anything you'd like. The only thing you'll need to keep in mind is color. When the main dish is finished, it will be golden in color with a few hints of pink; therefore you'll want to add something complimentary, rather than something similar, such as broccoli, tossed green salad or green beans.
Dessert
After dinner you may want to offer a dessert. Ham is a natural match for tropical fruits, so let them guide you in your search for the perfect end note for your dinner. For example, you could serve key lime pie, pineapple upside-down cake, coconut cream pie, or lemon pound cake, just to name a few. For something a bit lighter, you could throw together a citrus-based fruit salad and serve it in cute dessert dishes.
Tags: , medium heat, onions cheese, over medium, over medium heat, pairs well