I say this is an Italian Potato and Ham Pie, because I found the recipe on an Italian website – and I used mozzarella and parmesan cheese – but apart from that, I don’t think there’s anything specifically Italian about it. What it is about, is a recipe that is so easy, and ultimately so delicious, that you just have to try it.
what you’ll need
- Potatoes
- Two egg yolks
- Cheese – the original recipe calls for caciocavallo cheese, but I couldn’t get this and so substituted it with mozzarella
- Grana Padana cheese (or parmesan)
- Fresh Spinach
- Sliced ham
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Salt & pepper
- Rosemary – fresh is best, but dried will work, too
what you’ll need to do
- Boil the potatoes until ready for mashing – drain, season with salt and pepper, add the grana padana (amount according to taste) and mash, the add the egg yolks, salt & pepper and rosemary and combine, then use of the mixture to line a dish or oven proof tin
- Saute the spinach in the olive oil and garlic – when wilted, drain, so that all of the excess water is removed
- Put a layer of the garlicky spinach over the potato, then a layer of the cheese you are using, then a layer of sliced ham
- Add another layer of cheese and top with the remainder of the potato, pressing it down, so that it is compact
- Brush a little oil over the surface, and bake for around 50 minutes in an oven, pre-heated to 190°C – it’ll then be ready to eat immediately or saved for later, and eaten cold
Photo credit : www.giallozafferano.com