Double Cheese, Potato, and Ham Bake
- 260 g spinach
- 150 g cheese
- 25 g butter
- 15 g plain flour
- 400 ml milk
- 3 tablespoons double cream
- 2 tablespoons chives
- 750 g potatoes
- 3 shallots
- 2 pinches nutmeg
- 200 g ham
- Preheat the oven to gas 5, 190C, fan 170C Butter a 1.5-1.8l (2 1/2-3 pint) ovenproof dish.
- Tip the spinach into a large heatproof bowl, pour over boiling water, then leave for a few seconds to wilt.
- Tip into a colander, then run under cold water.
- Drain and squeeze to remove any excess liquid.
- Dry with kitchen towel and set aside.
- To make the cheese sauce, combine both the cheeses in a bowl.
- Melt half the butter in a pan.
- Stir the flour into the butter and cook for a minute.
- Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the milk.
- Return to the heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly.
- Simmer for 1-2 minutes, then remove from the heat and stir in the cream, chives, and two thirds of the cheese and season.
- Layer a third of the potato slices in a casserole dish in overlapping slices, then top with a third of the shallots.
- Season.
- Scatter over half the spinach, a pinch of nutmeg, then half the ham.
- Pour over half the cheese sauce.
- Continue the layering with another third of the potatoes and shallots and some seasoning.
- Follow with the rest of the spinach, nutmeg, ham, and sauce.
- Finish with a layer of potato and shallot and some seasoning.
- Dot with the rest of the butter, then scatter over the remaining cheese.
- Put the dish on a baking sheet.
- Bake for about 1 1/4 hours, until the dish is bubbling and golden on top and the potatoes are tender.
- Cover loosely with foil for the last 25-30 minutes if the top is getting too brown.
- Remove and leave to settle for 5 minutes, then serve scattered with some extra chives.
spinach, cheese, butter, flour, milk, double cream, chives, potatoes, shallots, nutmeg, ham
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/double-cheese-potato-and-ham-bake-479034 (may not work)