Name: Ham and Egg Pasta Bake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 portions
Ingredients: 75 g alphabet pasta; 50 g smoked ham; 0.25 pcs onion; 0.75 pcs egg; 50 ml milk; 7.5 g butter; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 0.125 teaspoon black pepper; 0.5 l water; oil; butter

Step by step process

Preparation

1
Pour 2 liters of water into a large pot, bring to a boil, and season with 1 teaspoon of salt. Add the fleky (small square pasta) and cook for 6-8 minutes according to the package instructions until al dente (soft but still slightly firm in the center). Drain in a colander and let briefly drain.
2
Meanwhile, peel the onion and finely chop it so it sautés evenly. Cut the smoked ham into small cubes (approximately 1 cm) so they heat through evenly during the short sauté.

Cooking

3
In a small saucepan, melt 30 g of butter and let it cool slightly so it doesn't curdle when mixed.
4
Heat a little oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and fry for 5-7 minutes until translucent and beginning to sweeten. stir occasionally to prevent burning.
TIP:
Cook the onions over low heat only until they soften and turn translucent, not brown. This creates a delicate, slightly sweet base that works well in sauces, soups, and meat dishes.
5
Add the chopped smoked ham to the onion and fry for 2-3 minutes, just to warm the meat and lightly brown it.
6
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk and freshly ground black pepper. Add the drained fleky, the sautéed onion and ham mixture, and the melted butter. Mix everything thoroughly, taste, and add salt if needed (keep in mind ham and cheese will add saltiness).
TIP:
When incorporating eggs into a hot mixture, temper them. Gradually add the hot mixture to the eggs while whisking constantly, and then return everything to the bowl with the remaining mixture to prevent the eggs from curdling.

Baking

7
Preheat the oven to 180 °C (fan 160-170 °C).
8
Grease a baking dish or casserole with butter to prevent the pasta from sticking.
9
Transfer the prepared mixture to the dish, level the surface, and sprinkle grated cheese on top to taste.
10
Bake in the preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes, until the top is golden and the filling has set. Check with a skewer in the center - it should come out clean. the surface should be golden and slightly crisp.

Serving

11
Let the pasta bake rest for 5 minutes after taking it out of the oven, then portion and serve warm. It is recommended to serve with pickled cucumbers or a vegetable relish for a contrast of flavors.