Ham and Scalloped Potatoes

Ham and scalloped potatoes is a creamy, cheesy American comfort food: thin potato rounds baked together with smoky ham and a silky creamy sauce.

1. Peel the potatoes and slice them into very thin, even rounds – this way they soften evenly.

2. Dice the cooked ham and chop the onion finely.

3. In the butter fry a light roux from the wheat flour, then pour in the milk and the cream and, stirring constantly, cook it into a thick, smooth sauce.

4. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in half of the grated cheddar, so it melts through.

5. Layer it into an ovenproof dish: potato, ham and onion, sauce – then repeat the layers.

6. Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese, and bake at 180 °C for about 1 hour, until tender and golden.

Tip: Cover it with foil for the first half, and remove it for the last 20 minutes, so the top browns nicely.