My favourite dish from childhood.

Now, this is a recipe that brings back memories. Crispy cheesy ham rolls with sunset sauce served with pasta was my favourite meal when I was a kid. To recreate this dish the ham rolls need to be submerged in a tomato-based béchamel sauce and smothered with cheese before being broiled in the oven.

INGREDIENTS

⦁ 500 ml (2 cups) whole milk

⦁ 30 g (1 oz) flour

⦁ 30 g (1 oz) unsalted butter

⦁ 1 small onion

⦁ 2 cloves

⦁ 1 chicken stock cube

⦁ 1 small bay leaf

⦁ Pinch of salt

⦁ Sprig of thyme

⦁ 6 slices of good quality ham

⦁ 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) heavy whipping cream

⦁ 5 tbsp of good quality tomato sauce (or passata)

⦁ 100 g (3.5 oz) cheese

⦁ 1 tbsp of butter to coat the gratin dish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt the butter in a pan on a low heat, and once it is melted add the flour and mix it in well with a wooden spoon. Once mixed, leave it to cook on low for up to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave it to completely cool.

2. Pour the milk into another pan and add a sprig of thyme, small bay leaf, onion cut in half with a clove in each half, nutmeg to taste and a pinch of salt. Cook on low till it reaches boiling point and then add up to one crumbled stock cube and stir in. Cook on low for up to two minutes. Turn off the heat.

3. Passing it through a sieve, add some of the hot milk to the cold roux and whisk it together. When it is well integrated, add the rest of the milk and continue whisking. Return the mix to the pan on low heat and bring to a boil while whisking.

4. Add 50 ml – 100 ml of cream and bring back to the boil. Add just enough tomato sauce to create a sunset colour but not too much to avoid the tomato flavour dominating the taste. Turn off the heat.

5. Pre-heat the oven (fan forced) to 200 °C (392 °F) and ensure that the top element is on. Grease a large baking dish with butter.

6. Pour a little sauce into the baking dish and place the rolled ham pieces on top, leaving a little space between each roll.

7. Lay more warm sauce over each piece and spread grated cheese over the top. Place the dish in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes. This should be long enough to crisp the cheese.

8. If you like extra crispness you can increase the temperature to 220 °C.

9. Serve on a bed of pasta.