Italian Ham & Cheese Pie With Potatoes

This Italian ham and cheese pie with potatoes is the perfect Christmas family dinner recipe to make and share with your loved ones. Imagine baking it on Christmas Eve. You can enjoy it as a starter or your main meal if you are having a lowkey night. It’s equally perfect for a Winter dinner, served with a side of soup, or if you want to balance the calories, you can serve it with a side salad.

Speaking of calories, this is one of those higher calorie recipes, because of the rich pie. So I suggest you divide this in 4 portions, and enjoy one. Any leftovers, can be reheated in the oven and enjoyed the next day. You can also eat it for lunch at work. It’s also delicious out of the fridge.

Now that you know how to serve it and how much, let’s get making it, shall we?

Ham and Cheese FAQ

What do Italians call this pie?

Torta di prosciutto e formaggio con patate is the general Italian name for this pie. However, different regions may call it in different ways. For example, in Sicily we call it scacciata di patate con prosciutto e formaggio. But if we were making scacciata pastry, we would be making our dough from scratch. And that dough has a more bready pizza consistency than in this recipe.

What type of ham should be used for an Italian ham and cheese pie?

A fresh Italian ham, such as Prosciutto di Parma, would be ideal for this recipe. However, any high-quality cooked ham can be used if Italian ham isn’t readily available.

Which types of cheese go into this pie?

The beauty of this pie recipe is that you can quickly change it by using a semi soft regional cheese. We are using provola, although I also suggest scamorza, because they have a great in between consistency and give a lot of flavour. If you can’t find those, a combination of hard mozzarella and Parmesan are fine. But feel free to experiment with other cheeses that you enjoy.

Can I use a ready-made pie crust?

Yes, you certainly can use a pre-made pie crust. That’s what we are doing. This can save time and still delivers a delicious result. However, if you enjoy baking, making your own pie crust can add a personal touch to the pie.

Is there a specific type of pastry that should be used?

Typically, a shortcrust or puff pastry is used for this type of pie. The choice depends on your personal preference between a firm or a flaky crust. Brisee pastry is closer to a shortcrust and is less butter than puff pastry. Us Italians, don’t like our pastries to be very buttery.

What should I serve with the Italian ham and cheese pie?

This pie would go well with a simple green salad, a side of roasted vegetables, or a bowl of soup for a heartier meal.

Can I prepare the pie in advance?

Yes, the pie can be assembled a day in advance and kept in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the pie and bake it at a later date. We haven’t tried it as in Italy we prefer enjoying our food fresh as much as possible.

How should leftovers be stored?

Any leftover pie should be covered and refrigerated. It will keep for about 2-3 days. To reheat, warm in the oven until the cheese is melted and the pie is heated through.