Estate Dinners

Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Green Onions

Name: Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Green Onions
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 4 large russet potatoes; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper; 1 (16 ounce) smoked ham steak, diced, about 3 cups; 4 tablespoons butter, ½ stick; 1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced, about 1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons more for garnish; ½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour; 4 cups whole milk; ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated, about ½ cup

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The Strategy:

This classic, bubbly casserole layers thinly sliced russet potatoes with savory smoked ham and green onions in a rich, creamy nutmeg-spiced sauce. Blanch the potato slices first, toss them with the ham in a baking dish, and pour the homemade white sauce over the top before finishing with Parmesan. Bake until golden and bubbling for a comforting crowd-pleaser.

Serves: 6-8 | Total Time: 45 minutes till it's ready

Ingredients

Potato Casserole Base

4 large russet potatoes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
1 (16 ounce) smoked ham steak, diced, about 3 cups

Cream Sauce and Topping

4 tablespoons butter, ½ stick
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced, about 1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons more for garnish
½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated, about ½ cup

Raw cooking ingredients for Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Green Onions arranged beautifully on a clean kitchen counter.

Instructions

Make and blanch potatoes

Preheat the oven to 400°.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Salt the water. Use a mandoline to thinly slice the potatoes. You need not peel them.
Place the potatoes in a bowl of cold water to make sure they don't turn brown. Once the water is boiling, drain the potatoes from the cold water and dump them in the pot. The water will stop boiling. When it begins to bubble again, turn off the heat and drain the potatoes through a colander.
Toss the blanched potatoes into a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish that has been coated with vegetable oil spray.
Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle the ham over the potatoes.

Make cream sauce

Melt the butter in a large pot until it begins to bubble. Slide the onions into the pot and cook until soft, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Whisk in the flour and cook the paste until it is smooth and frothy, about 3 to 5 minutes more. Slowly whisk in the milk.
Cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens, about 8 minutes.
Whisk in salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Assemble and bake

Pour the sauce over the potatoes and ham. Use a spatula to lift up the potato slices allowing the sauce to move around the dish.
Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the potatoes.
Place the dish into the oven and bake until the top is golden and the creamy sauce is bubbling, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Garnish the warm casserole with the remaining chopped green onions. Keep a potato casserole warm by first wrapping the top with plastic wrap. Next, surround the entire dish with aluminum foil. Finally, wrap the casserole in a dish towel. It's ready to transport!

Home cook prepared steps for assembling and cooking Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Green Onions.

The full recipe lives in the Vault

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Sunday Swaps

Use this recipe to create an au gratin potato dish by adding cheese to the cream sauce. Add 4 to 8 ounces (½ to 1 cup) of your favorite cheese such as cheddar, Gouda, blue, Gorgonzola or goat cheese.

If you are adding a hard cheese, use a box grater to grate the cheese so that it incorporates into the sauce smoothly. A crumbly cheese, like goat or Gorgonzola whisks in easily if you add just a little bit at a time.

Gotta Have Gadgets

A mandoline makes easy work of slicing all types of veggies. My favorite is a deluxe slicer. It allows you to adjust the blades to vary the thickness of each slice. The next best thing is a hand held version.

Regardless of which one you pick, remember to use the guard to protect your fingers.

The Heart of the Table

This golden-crusted potato casserole brings a sense of warmth and abundance to the table, enticing everyone with its creamy, savory aroma. The bubbly cheese and green onion garnish create an immediate feeling of comfort and celebration.

An appetizing, fresh serving of cooked Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Green Onions displayed beautifully on a styled dining table.

The Art of the Host

oatmeal-toned washed linen napkins
a set of heavy-gauge, satin-finished stainless steel mixing bowls
a large, hand-thrown ceramic serving platter with an organic rim
a hand-carved, long-handled cherrywood stirring spoon
a seamless, high-heat resistant silicone spatula in a soft slate grey

Neighborly Grace

THE PRESENTATION: Garnish the warm casserole with a handful of fresh green onions and serve it directly from the baking dish, which can be wrapped in a clean, colorful dish towel for a homey touch.
THE POUR: Pair with a dry Pinot Noir or a hot cup of roasted dandelion root tea.
THE VIBE: Evening Dining Room. The soft glow of the chandelier and the comforting warmth of the potato casserole create a cozy, intimate dinner atmosphere.

Chef’s Recommendations

The Acid This Dish Needs: Citrus Sautéed Green Beans
A Plate That Is Not Potato: Roasted Veggie Salad with Quinoa
Bread for the Sauce: Herby Buttermilk Bread
A Sweet Finish: Ginger Cookies

The Estate Table

Build tonight’s menu around this dish.

✦ Set the Table

Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Green Onions

Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Green Onions

The full recipe lives in the Vault

The Heart of the Table

The Art of the Host

Neighborly Grace

✨ The Gilded Swaps