CHEESY MASHED POTATO & HAM BAKE
This mashed potato and salami (or ham) bake is inspired by the Italian gatto di patate, which almost reminds of lasanga.
Imagine a crispy topping on your rich mashed potatoes with an added ham layer. You’re going to wow everyone with this comfy casserole-style firtst dish is a dream for both the carb and meat connoisseurs.
Mashed potatoes are combined with eggs, parmesan and milk, then layered slices of salami (or ham) and cheese, and baked with lots of cheese and bread crumbs.
Coating the outer with bread crumbs makes it more special. Feel free to switch it up. Cheese is one of the stars of the dish, so I went with mozzarella but also fontina, provolone, and sharp cheeses are perfect here.
Other important ingredient is salami. You can chop a thin steak or use leftover if you prefer in chunkier pieces, but also other Italian cured meats like ham or pancetta can be replaced.
Read recipe for tips on how to make thisc mashed potatoes layered with cheese and ham perfect baked in a casserole.
Ingredients
- Power 313,72 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 11,13 (g) of which sugars 0,90 (g)
- Proteins 19,90 (g)
- Fat 21,11 (g) of which saturated 11,21 (g)of which unsaturated 9,63 (g)
- Fibers 1,13 (g)
- Sodium 783,14 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 50 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Tools
HOW TO DO CHEESY MASHED POTATO & SALAMI BAKE
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9″ x 9″ baking dish with butter and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
COOK POTATOES
In a large pot, place potatoes and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and pass potatoes through a potato masher into a large bowl.
PREPARE Mashed Potato mix
Meanwhile, combine eggs, half and half (or milk) and grated parmesan in a bowl and stir to combine. Add the egg mixture and 4 tablespoons butter to the mashed potatoes and stir to combine.
HOW TO DO LAYERS Cheesy Mashed Potato SALAMI
Place a layer of half the potatoes in the prepared pan. Layer with salami and distribute chopped mozzarella on top. Finish with remaining potato mixture.
COOK CHEESY MASHED POTATO & HAM
In a small bowl combine breadcrumbs and remaining 1 ounce. Parmesan. Sprinkle in an even layer over the potatoes. Bake until top is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Times are indicative and depend on the type of oven. Gateau will be ready when it is puffy and the surface is slightly golden. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
ADVICE AND VARIATIONS
POTATOES: Which potatoes to choose for Cheesy Mashed Potato & Ham Bake? Which potatoes to use to make the perfect potato cat? The advice is to use old yellow-fleshed potatoes to minimize the presence of starch.
CHEESE: More cheese is BETTER. Cheese is one of the stars of the dish, so we went with mozzarella, fontina, and Parmesan. Sharp cheeses are perfect here, but provolone is a common option too.
SALAMI: This dish is made with chopped up salami but you can chop a thick ham steak or leftover baked ham if you prefer. Other Italian cured meats like prosciutto or pancetta can be replaced.
AROMATIC HERBS: You can flavor the potato mixture with aromatic herbs such as marjoram or nutmeg.
STORAGE
You can bake, let cool, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Slowly reheat in a 350° oven until the center is warmed through. Make the mashed potatoes up to 1 day ahead and assemble later on.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is gatto di patate?
“Gatto” refers to a cake in French, which is why people bake this potato casserole in a round springform pan. Mashed potatoes are combined with pieces or slices of ham and baked with lots of cheese and bread crumbs. Coating the outer edges with bread crumbs makes the cake a little more special; however, to keep things simple, this recipe is made in a 9″ x 9″ pan. Feel free to switch it up.
Which potatoes to choose for Cheesy Mashed Potato & Ham Bake?
Which potatoes to use to make the perfect potato cat? The advice is to use old yellow-fleshed potatoes to minimize the presence of starch.
Varied doses for servings