serrano ham

This isn't just a recipe for any ole ham sandwich. It's a Monte Cristo sandwich, and that's a beautiful, beautiful thing. 

Spanish Ham and Cheese Monte Cristo Sandwiches

sourdough or country-style French bread (each about 5x3 inches)

Dijon mustard

Manchego cheese,* thinly sliced

Serrano ham

membrillo (quince paste)

eggs

(1/2 stick) butter

This isn't just a recipe for any ole ham sandwich. It's a Monte Cristo sandwich, and that's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Bon Appétit

Arrange 4 bread slices on work surface. Spread each with 1/2 tablespoon mustard. Top each with 1/4 of cheese, then 1/4 of ham, folding to fit. Spread 1 tablespoon quince paste on each of remaining 4 bread slices; place bread, paste side down, atop ham.

Beat eggs in pie dish until well blended. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in each of 2 large skillets over medium-low heat. Working with 1 sandwich at a time, hold sandwiches tightly closed and dip into beaten eggs to coat on all sides. Place 2 sandwiches in each skillet. Cover and cook until bottoms are golden, about 4 minutes. Turn sandwiches over. Cover and cook until bottoms are golden, cheese is melted, and egg coating is cooked through, about 4 minutes longer.

I have always loved eggplant parmigiana, but the first time I tried preparing it at home, I found the standard recipe daunting: too much frying and too much cheese. I've been simplifying it ever since. This recipe is more pared-down than most. I baked the eggplants with a simple tomato, eggplant and garlic topping bolstered with fragrant herbs. I used ricotta salata, but other cheeses, including shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano, fontina or mild pecorino, would be fine. Though the dish can be served hot from the oven, I prefer to let it cool somewhat, to let the flavors bloom. If made well in advance but not refrigerated, it can be reheated in a 300-degree oven for 20 minutes. And it makes for a handsome and delicious buffet dish.

Eggplant Baked With Tomatoes and Ricotta Salata

olive oil

eggplants,

Salt and black pepper

garlic, minced

oregano leaves

tomatoes

Espelette pepper

ricotta salata, finely diced

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Use a little of the oil to brush the bottom of an oblong baking dish, like a lasagna pan, 9 by 13 inches. Snip off any stems from the eggplants but keep the leaves on. Quarter the eggplants vertically and place them skin side down in the baking dish. Brush the cut sides with oil, about a tablespoon. Season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven and bake 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven, but keep oven on. Place the eggplant quarters on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut away the flesh, quite close to the skin. Dice the flesh, then chop it fine, by hand or in a food processor. But don't let it become a purée.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a heavy skillet. Add the ham and sauté on medium until it barely starts to brown. Add the garlic and oregano, sauté another 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes. Cook on medium-high until any juices from the tomatoes begin to reduce, about 5 minutes. Stir in the eggplant. Season with salt, black pepper and Espelette. Stir in 1/2 tablespoon of the remaining oil.

Top the eggplant skins with this mixture, mounding it up a bit. Return eggplants to the baking dish. Top each with the cheese and drizzle with remaining oil. Bake 20 minutes, until eggplants start to sizzle and cheese has softened – it won’t melt. Serve at once or let cool and serve at room temperature.

Thanks to both canned tuna and store-bought frozen puff pastry, this Galician empanada is very easy to make.

Tuna Empanada

plum tomatoes, seeded, finely chopped

green bell pepper, finely chopped

onion,

garlic cloves,

tuna

hard-boiled eggs, peeled, sliced

Nonstick vegetable oil spray

puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed

egg,

Empanadas may be popular in Latin America, but they arrived there via Spain, where they were often akin to pies, as this Galician recipe is. Thanks to both canned tuna and store-bought frozen puff pastry, this empanada gallega de atun is very easy to make.

Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes, pepper, onion, and garlic; sprinkle with salt and pepper and sauté until vegetables are soft, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Add tuna and sliced eggs; toss gently to distribute evenly. Season filling with salt and pepper; set aside to cool completely.

Spray rimless baking sheet with nonstick spray. Roll out 1 pastry sheet on floured surface to 12x16-inch rectangle. Transfer to baking sheet. Arrange ham over pastry, leaving 1-inch border. Spread filling atop ham, leaving 1-inch border. Brush pastry edges with beaten egg. Roll out second pastry sheet to 12x15-inch rectangle. Place atop filling, pressing on edges to seal. Fold 1/2 inch of bottom pastry edge up over top pastry; crimp edges to seal. Brush top with beaten egg. Cut eight 2-inch slashes in top pastry. DO AHEAD Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover; chill.

Preheat oven to 450°F. Bake empanada uncovered until crust is browned and crisp, about 25 minutes. Slide onto platter.

Enjoy as it is with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dunking, or smear with soft goat's cheese and top with a handful of rocket

Fig & Serrano ham picnic bread

pack bread mix (we used ciabatta)

sage leaves

garlic

plain flour

figs

½ onion

flaky sea salt

Tip the bread mix into a large mixing bowl with the shredded sage and 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Put 2 tbsp of the oil and the garlic in a jug with the amount of water stated on the bread mix pack. Stir the liquid into the dry ingredients with a wooden spoon, then bring the dough together with your hands and knead for 5 mins on a floured surface until smooth. Return to the mixing bowl, cover with oiled cling film and leave to rise until doubled in size.

Punch the dough a few times to knock out the air, then divide into 8 portions. Roll each to a flattish bap shape on a lightly floured surface and arrange in a roughly 20 x 30cm roasting tin. Toss the whole sage leaves, figs, onion and ham with 1 tbsp of the oil, then scatter these over the top. Use your fingers to press the toppings into the bread a little, and spread the bread to fill any gaps. Cover loosely with oiled cling film and leave to rise for 20 mins until it has puffed up.

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Drizzle over the remaining oil, sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper, and bake for 30 mins until risen, golden and crisp on top. Leave to cool in the tin for 15 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Pack back into the tin to transport to a picnic, and tear the bread into 8 portions.

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Top 4 serrano ham recipes from across the web

The most viewed serrano ham recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Spanish Ham and Cheese Monte Cristo...

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The most viewed serrano ham recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine