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{{#seo:
|title=Ham leek and cheese gratin recipe
|titlemode=replace
|keywords=#leeks #cheesesauce #microwave #ham #boil #cheddarcheese #hamleekandcheesegratin #butter #cheese #breadcrumbs #blackpepper
|hashtagrev=032020
|description=This recipe is a simple way of combining leeks, cheese and ham into a gorgeous meal
}}

I always seem to let our [[Leeks|leeks]] run to [[Seed|seed]], by which time they are unusable. This year I'm making an effort to use them profusely. I've even deliberately run out of [[Onions|onions]] and just put a sign in the [[Onion|onion]] bowl: "USE LEEKS!"

This recipe is a simple way of combining [[Leeks|leeks]], [[Cheese|cheese]] and [[Ham|ham]] into a gorgeous meal.

This was very tasty but one problem was the whole leeks. Although it looks nice, once soft they are very difficult to cut - in future I will slice them thinly and probably not par-boil first. 20 seconds in the [[microwave]] would be enough.
{{recipesummary
|TotalCalories = 1634
|PortionCalories = 817
|DatePublished=30th September 2015
|Author=Chef
|ImageComment =
|Servings = Serves 2
|Difficulty = 1
|TotalTime = 15 minutes
|PrepTime = 15 minutes
|CookTime = None
|Image = [[Image:Ham leek and cheese gratin recipe.jpg|middle|none|alt=Electus]]

}}
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====Best recipe review====

''A bit burnt, hey?''

4/5 

You need to watch this a bit closer!

 [[User:Chef|Jerry, aka Chef]])
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{{RecipeIngredients

| 4 medium to small [[Leeks|leeks]], liberally trimmed, peeled and cleaned
| [[Sea Salt|sea salt]] and [[Freshly ground black pepper|freshly ground black pepper]]
| Pinch of fresh [[Thyme leaves|thyme leaves]]
| 150g cooked [[Ham|ham]] - the thinner the better, thick ham does not roll well!
| 100g [[Cheddar cheese]] for the [[Cheese sauce|cheese sauce]]
| ¾ pint of [[Milk|milk]] [354 ml]
| 2 tablespoons [[Butter|butter]]
| 2 tablespoons [[Plain flour|plain flour]]
| 4 tablespoons [[Panko|panko]] [[Breadcrumbs|breadcrumbs]]
| 25g [[Cheddar cheese]] to top
| 25g crumbled [[Blue cheese|blue cheese]] (optional)
}}
===[[Mise en place]]===

* Preheat the [[Oven|oven]] to 180° C (350° F - gas 4), [fan oven 160° C & reduce cooking time by 10 mins per hour]
<gallery widths=250px heights=250px perrow=5>
Image:Leeks and ham sauce added.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Adding the final topping
Image:Leeks and ham ready for cheese sauce.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Leeks rolled in ham, ready for the sauce
</gallery>
===Method===
{{RecipeMethod

| Ensure the [[Leeks|leeks]] are properly cleaned
| I've used small gratin dishes so had to halve them but you can leave them whole
| [[Boil]] the [[Leeks|leeks]] in lightly [[Salted|salted]] water for about 8 minutes or until softened - they can also be microwaved, see below.
| Drain well.
| Meanwhile, to make the [[Cheese sauce|cheese sauce]], melt the [[Butter|butter]] with a pinch of [[Black pepper|black pepper]] and stir in the [[Flour|flour]] once melted.
| Whisk the [[Milk|milk]] in and bring to a [[Simmer|simmer]], don't [[Boil|boil]]. Once [[Simmering|simmering]], whisk well, add 100 g of the [[Cheddar]] and once melted, remove from the heat.
| Roll the [[Leeks|leeks]] in the cooked [[Ham|ham]] and lay in a lightly oiled gratin dish or shallow [[Casserole|casserole]].
| Pour the [[Cheese sauce|cheese sauce]] over the [[Leeks|leeks]].
| If you have the time, chilling the mixture in the gratin dishes (as pictured), solidifies the cheese sauce making it easier to add the topping, which has a tendency to sink into the hot sauce.
| Mix the [[Breadcrumbs|breadcrumbs]] and any [[Cheese|cheese]] you are using for the topping in a bowl and [[Crumble|crumble]] well, maybe add a pinch of [[Black pepper|black pepper]].
| Pour this mixture over the top and [[Bake|bake]] uncovered at the top of the [[Oven|oven]] at 180° C
}}
===Serving suggestions===
A few [[Tomatoes|tomatoes]] is all this dish needs to finish it off.
===Variations===
You could include a little [[Pasta|pasta]] to stretch this dish even further.
===Chef's notes===
The [[Leeks|leeks]] can be softened in the [[Microwave|microwave]], the advantage of this over [[Boiling|boiling]] is that they keep their color.

Lay them on a plate and [[Microwave|microwave]] on full power for 2 minutes.full power.
{{RecipeLine}}
[[Category:Recipes]]
[[Category:British recipes]]
[[Category:Italian recipes]]
[[Category:Historic recipes]]
[[Category:Main courses]]
[[Category:Cheese recipes]]
[[Category:Vegetable recipes]]
[[Category:Baked or roasted]]
[[Category:Boiled or simmered]]

<code 'hashtagrev:12032020'>[[Special:Search/leeks|#leeks]] [[Special:Search/cheesesauce|#cheesesauce]] [[Special:Search/microwave|#microwave]] [[Special:Search/ham|#ham]] [[Special:Search/boil|#boil]] [[Special:Search/cheddarcheese|#cheddarcheese]] [[Special:Search/hamleekandcheesegratin|#hamleekandcheesegratin]] [[Special:Search/butter|#butter]] [[Special:Search/cheese|#cheese]] [[Special:Search/breadcrumbs|#breadcrumbs]] [[Special:Search/blackpepper|#blackpepper]]
</code>

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