The potato, Swiss chard and ham casserole is a one-dish meal, simple and very flavorful, baked in the oven. It’s a kind of rustic savory pie where boiled, mashed potatoes are combined with Swiss chard and ham. Perfect to serve for a family lunch or with friends. It’s a straightforward, homemade recipe, ideal if you want a hearty, complete dish. If you enjoy rustic savory pies you can also try:

Difficulty: Easy
Cost: Budget-friendly
Preparation time: 20 Minutes
Cooking time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
Portions: 6 Servings
Cooking methods: Stovetop, Oven
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients to make the potato, Swiss chard and ham casserole

28 oz potatoes (peeled)
18 oz Swiss chard
4 oz cooked ham
4 oz mozzarella (low-moisture, pizza-style)
2 eggs (medium)
2 tbsp pecorino romano (grated)
to taste salt
to taste pepper
to taste nutmeg
to taste extra virgin olive oil
Half yellow onion
to taste bread crumbs

Tools

Frying pan
Pot
Bowl
Spoons
Baking pan

Steps to make the potato, Swiss chard and ham casserole

To prepare the potato, Swiss chard and ham casserole, first clean the potatoes well: peel them, wash and cut into pieces. Boil them in a pot with coarse salt for about 30 minutes, until they are soft. Wash the Swiss chard thoroughly, chop it, and slice the yellow onion. Take a large frying pan, sauté the onion in extra virgin olive oil for a couple of minutes, then add the Swiss chard and sauté for another couple of minutes. Lower the heat, add a little water, cover and let them soften for about 15 minutes — the white stems should become tender.
When the potatoes are done, mash them in a large bowl using a potato ricer or masher. Then add 2 eggs, 2 tbsp grated pecorino romano, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Also add the cooked ham cut into pieces and the mozzarella — I chose low-moisture pizza-style mozzarella to avoid excess water, otherwise the casserole may become too soft. Check the Swiss chard: it should be dry, with no water left in the pan. If there is still liquid, raise the heat to evaporate it completely. Once the Swiss chard has cooled, add it to the potato mixture and mix well with a wooden spoon.
Preheat the conventional oven to 356°F. Take a baking pan and rub extra virgin olive oil on the bottom and sides so the casserole won’t stick. Sprinkle some bread crumbs on the bottom and pour in the potato, Swiss chard and ham mixture. Level the surface, sprinkle more bread crumbs on top and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Bake for about 30 minutes. If you want a slightly crunchy top, use the grill/broil function for a couple of minutes at the end.
Remove from the oven, let cool, then serve. Your casserole is now ready to enjoy!