HAM & POTATO AU GRATIN

HAM & POTATO AU GRATIN image

Yield 4-6 people

Number Of Ingredients 14

3 large potatoes, peeled and sliced very thin
2 cups chopped ham
1/2 large onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped fine
2 tbsp olive oil
2-3 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 - 1 tsp pepper sauce (Frank's or Tabasco)
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
2 cups whole milk
1/4 lb cheddar cheese, grated

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375 deg F. 2. In a saucepan that you will eventually use to make the cheese sauce, heat the olive oil and fry the onion and garlic until they are golden. Decant into a small bowl. 3. In the same saucepan used to fry the onion and garlic, melt the butter on medium heat. Add the flour to it and stir constantly with a wisk for about 2-3 mins until the roux is well toasted. 4. Slowly add the milk, wisking smooth. Add the salt, black pepper, and pepper sauce. Continue mixing until bubbly and thickened. 5. Set the heat to low and add the grated cheese. Wisk until the cheese is completely melted, then turn off the heat. 6. In a casserole dish sprayed with Pam, lay down 1/3 of the sliced potatoes. Layer with 1/2 the ham, 1/2 the onion mixture, and half the parsley. Drizzle on 1/3 of the cheese sauce, then sprinkle with about 1 tsp of paprika. 7. Make another layer with 1/3 of the sliced potatoes, the remaining onion mixture, parsley, and ham. Drizzle on 1/3 of the cheese sauce, then sprinkle with about 1 tsp of paprika. 8. Top with the rest of the potato, cheese sauce, and a final sprinkling of paprika. 9. Bake covered for 1 hour. 10. Remove the cover and bake for another 15 min. 11. Allow the casserole to rest for 10 mins before serving.