Leftover Ham Casserole

CountryLady's Note:

This is a Mother/Daughter "creation" for using the leftover spiral ham from Christmas day - just add a green veg or salad to complete the meal. Quick, easy & very good - I'll buy another ham just so I can make it again!!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 25 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 4 large baking potatoes
• 3 tablespoons butter or 3 tablespoons margarine
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1 lb cooked ham, sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese

Directions:

1. Peel potatoes & slice very thinly.
2. Pat dry with paper towels & set aside.
3. Melt butter in a small heavy saucepan.
4. Remove from heat & whisk in flour.
5. Gradually whisk in milk & seasonings, return to heat and stir constantly until thickened, about 10 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and add the wine.
7. Set aside.
8. Assemble in layers in the bottom of a lightly greased ovenproof casserole dish- 1/2 of the ham, 1/2 of the potatoes, 1/2 the onions, 1/2 the sauce and 1/2 the cheese.
9. Repeat the layers.
10. Cover & bake in a preheated 350°F oven for an hour.
11. Remove cover & continue baking for another 15 minutes.

Reviews

[shanti2]

Loved it!!!!.used leftover spiral sliced ham,,,loved the sauce!!!..the wine ,the cheese,,the onions,,delicious!!!!i didn't double sauce as this was the first time I made this and wasn't sure how much sauce it would make.Update,,after cooking awhile I decided to make and add more sauce and I am glad I did,,,double the sauce!!! also be sure potatoes are cut thin,,cooks faster..

[outerbankergirl]

This is pretty much of a straight forward ham, onion and potato casserole with a bechamel or, if you add the cheese to the sauce instead of layering, a Mornay sauce. To enhance the dish and kick it up a notch, I used unpeeled Yukon Gold potatoes, doubled the sauce (using 1 c of chicken stock), added several cloves of garlic passed over a microplane to the sauce, used 1 c fontina cheese (had no montery jack - one could use virtually any cheese) and topped with crumbled Ritz crackers mixed with Pecorino Romano. Delish. I was trying to use up half a ham someone gave me that had been in the freezer. Ham was watery when thawed and I was skeptical, but patted it dry with paper towels. Ham turned out okay, but to be honest the best part was the rest!

[Dr.Babs]

We had only eaten half a spiral ham and this was a delicious, fresh way to serve the leftovers. I didn't double the sauce and ended up having to quickly make another pan full for the second layer. I used a mild cheddar which was good and added the Parmesan cheese to the top. I also sprinkled garlic powder on each layer and included red pepper flakes in the cream sauce. My husband wished there had been more ham but otherwise loved it too. Excellent recipe -- thanks!