Adding ham to potatoes au gratin makes a one-dish meal.
While thinly sliced, seasoned and baked au gratin potatoes with their cheese-topped, creamy sauce function as a tasty side dish for various meals, the addition of ham to the potatoes can turn it into a filling main entree. Diced, sliced or cubed ham, of any variety -- low-fat, smoked, honey-flavored or fat-free -- can add more flavor and interest to this standard dish.
Instructions
1. Dice, slice or cube the ham of your choice with a knife to make between 1 and 2 cups, depending on the size of your dish.
2. Mix in the pieces of ham with the other ingredients when making the dish or layer it as part of the ingredients, if the recipe requires it. For instance, some recipes require that you make a layer of potatoes, a layer of ham, a layer of carrots and then pour the creamy sauce over all layers before baking.
3. Sprinkle pieces of diced ham over the top of the au gratin potatoes and add a layer of grated cheese -- any variety -- on top and bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for three to five minutes, if you are adding the ham as an afterthought to the recipe or reheating leftovers.
Tags: creamy sauce, potatoes layer