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Garlic & Zest

Gourmet Cooking at Home!

Southern Ham and Kale Hot Dish

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As a Southern native, I’ve grown up with a certain vernacular.  Words, phrases and yes, a little twang, that were ever present throughout my childhood, y’all.  I thought I’d dispensed with those idioms since I’d moved to Florida until my husband pointed them out to me very early in our courtship.  To be clear, Scott is Midwestern through and through but he’s got a few of those little gems too…’ you betcha!’

 

chopped onions kale

So when our two worlds collided some years ago, we had several of those “what did you say?” moments.

 I remember once while we were visiting his family in Minnesota, my daughter was hanging out with her cousins and Scott’s niece, Anna, asked her if she wanted a “pop”.  Emily froze.  She looked at Scott quizzically.  Did she want a “pop?”  What was a pop?  She wanted so much to fit in with her older cousin, but had no idea if she was agreeing to be the butt of a private joke.  Her eyes pleaded with Scott.  Did she want a pop?

chopped garlic and kale kale and ham

It turns out that yes, she did.  He explained that a “pop” in the Midwest is a “soda” in the South.  Oh!  Just like a hotdish in the Midwest is a casserole in the South.  

butter and flour with whisk bechamel in pan with whisk

Southern Ham and Kale Hotdish

If you’re not familiar with hotdish, they’re usually made with canned soups (think cream of mushroom) and stick-to-your-ribs ingredients like ground chuck and tater tots.    I’m sure I made a face the first time he told me about them.  But I love my husband and since it’s been so cold lately,  I decided to make him a version of this Midwestern specialty, using some of my regional staples and NO CANNED SOUP.   So, this is my Southern Ham and Kale Hotdish, y’all!

 

cheese sauce and macaroni adding kale to macaroni

This one has big chunks of ham and tender macaroni in a lush mornay sauce with handfuls of fresh kale (eat your veggies) mixed throughout.  If you’re not a kale junkie, like me, you can easily sub in some frozen sweet peas.

bread and parsley in food processor adding bread crumbs to casserole

 Transfer the hotdish mixture to a large casserole dish and sprinkle generously with buttered breadcrumbs, then bake it to a crunchy golden brown.  I don’t care where you’re from – this one is a winner, you betcha!  

 

Southern Ham and Kale Hot Dish with spoon Southern Ham and Kale Hot Dish on a spoon Southern Ham and Kale Hot Dish with napkin

Southern Ham and Kale Hot Dish

Southern Ham and Kale Hotdish

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked ham, kale, macaroni, macaroni and cheese
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 406 kcal

Macaroni and cheese meets ham and kale in this comfort food casserole!

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 6-7 kale large ribs, tough stems removed
  • 2 large cloves garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups ham diced
  • 3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon butter divided
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 cup cheddar grated or monterey jack cheese
  • 8 ounces macaroni noodles
  • 1 slice bread
  • 1/4 cup parsley fresh

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Spray a large casserole dish with vegetable spray and set aside.
  2. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the macaroni according to package instructions -- just until al dente. Rinse and drain the noodles and set aside.
  3. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet add the onions, cook for 3-5 minutes until tender and translucent. Rinse the kale to remove any grit, chop the kale and add it directly to the pan (don't dry the water off of the kale - you want a little bit to steam and wilt the kale leaves) and cover tightly with a lid. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally until the kale has wilted. Stir in the ham and set aside.
  4. In a large saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly to combine. Stir in the salt, pepper and cayenne. When the roux begins to bubble, cook for one minute, then gradually whisk in the milk a little at a time. Stir the sauce constantly and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan so it doesn't stick. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and cook for 1 minute until sauce is thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the grated cheese until melted, set aside.
  5. Add the noodles to the cheese sauce and stir until well coated. Add the noodle mixture to the kale mixture and mix until combined and transfer to the casserole dish.
  6. Tear the bread into chunks and add them to the mini prep food processor. Add the butter and parsley and pulse until bread crumbs are formed. Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over the casserole and bake for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and browned on top. Serve.
Nutrition Facts
Southern Ham and Kale Hotdish
Amount Per Serving
Calories 406 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 32%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 53mg 18%
Sodium 666mg 28%
Potassium 528mg 15%
Total Carbohydrates 35g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 6g
Protein 18g 36%
Vitamin A 98%
Vitamin C 67%
Calcium 29.1%
Iron 9.8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Don’t Forget To “Pin It” For Later!

 

This easy recipe for Southern Ham n' Kale Hot Dish of tender macaroni in cheesy sauce is an easy to make comfort food classic casserole.

 

Southern Ham and Kale Hotdish | Garlic + Zest

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Entrees// Meat// Pasta// Pork16 Comments

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Comments

  1. Nikki says

    May 17, 2018 at 5:11 PM

    Thank you very much for sharing this recipe. It was delicious

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 17, 2018 at 6:32 PM

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  2. Nancy/SpicieFoodie says

    February 16, 2016 at 11:08 PM

    Haha, the whole “pop” and “soda” thing always cracks me up. What a fantastic dish — you got my mouth watering!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      February 17, 2016 at 7:12 AM

      Thanks, Nancy – you should have seen the look on Emily’s face!

      Reply
  3. Paola from Coral Gables Love says

    February 16, 2016 at 10:17 AM

    Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! If I’m cooking for a vegetarian, do you think it would still taste yummy without the ham?

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      February 16, 2016 at 1:04 PM

      Absolutely! You could also add some of those sausage-like tempeh crumbles if you wanted to.

      Reply
  4. Felesha Bell says

    February 15, 2016 at 3:30 PM

    Oh how yummy does this look! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Dana says

    February 15, 2016 at 11:31 AM

    This definitely has comfort food written all over it!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      February 15, 2016 at 12:38 PM

      Absolutely!

      Reply
  6. Chris H says

    February 15, 2016 at 11:06 AM

    Interesting dish!

    Reply
  7. Platter Talk says

    February 15, 2016 at 10:25 AM

    We’re in love with this combination of ham and kale; very beautifully done!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      February 15, 2016 at 10:58 AM

      Thank you so much! I’m glad you like it!

      Reply
  8. Sara Lehman says

    February 15, 2016 at 10:09 AM

    This looks like the perfect dish to serve on a chilly day like today!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      February 15, 2016 at 10:58 AM

      It will definitely take away the chill and make you feel cozy!

      Reply
  9. foodhuntersguide says

    February 15, 2016 at 9:53 AM

    This sounds delicious. I’ll need to try making it.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      February 15, 2016 at 10:57 AM

      It’s always a hit in our house – and who doesn’t love a good mac and cheese?

      Reply

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Calling all cooks! You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to get a delicious, healthy meal on the table! At Garlic & Zest, I’ll show you how to make hundreds of seasonal, fresh recipes and indulgent comfort foods with easy step-by-step instructions and photos to help you master the dish.

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