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Whenever I make ham with Madeira sauce, it takes me back to those special Sundays when mom would bring out her fancy dishes for a more upscale family meal. These days I keep that tradition going, but with my own little spin. The silky mushroom sauce, the gentle hint of Madeira wine, and the perfectly cooked pasta create such a treat – it always gets people talking!
My Signature Dish
What I love about this dish is how naturally sophisticated it feels. The woody notes in the Madeira sauce and those tender mushrooms turn ordinary ham into something you'd find at a nice restaurant. My kids can't get enough of soaking up all that sauce with their noodles, and guests always bug me to tell them how I make my sauce taste so good.
In My Kitchen
- Ham: 4 thick-cut slices from my local butcher
- My pasta: Fresh tagliatelle when available
- For my sauce:
- 75g of quality salted butter
- 100ml of my favorite Madeira
- 3 fresh shallots
- 250g of firm button mushrooms
- My cornstarch for thickening
- Filtered water
- My homemade veal stock
- A garden herb bundle
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
My Step-by-Step Approach
- The sauce comes first
- I start with the sauce since it's what makes this dish special. I sweat the shallots and mushrooms in butter until they're soft and aromatic.
- Pasta with a bite
- I watch my tagliatelle like a hawk while cooking, making sure they have just the right amount of firmness.
- Golden ham
- I quickly brown my ham in a hot pan to keep it nice and juicy inside.
- Plating with love
- I arrange everything carefully on the plates, making sure the sauce generously covers the ham.
My Little Tricks
When I can get them, I grab wild mushrooms for an amazing flavor boost in the sauce. I always trim excess fat from the ham before cooking it. Adding a splash of Madeira to the sauce right at the end really wakes up all the flavors.
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My Favorite Variations
On nights when I'm out of Madeira, I'll grab Porto or a nice red wine instead. Sometimes I swap the tagliatelle for pan-fried gnocchi, which works amazingly too. For lighter dinners, I'll serve it with steamed veggies, though I've got to admit pasta is still my top choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I swap Madeira wine?
- Yes, you can use Marsala or Port wine instead. The taste will be slightly different but still delicious.
- → Which mushrooms work best?
- Fresh button mushrooms are ideal, but canned mushrooms also work. For more flavor, use wild mushrooms.
- → How to keep pasta warm?
- Save some pasta water and toss them briefly in a pan with this water right before serving.
- → Can the sauce be made ahead?
- Yes, the sauce can be prepped earlier and reheated gently. Add a splash of water if it gets too thick.
- → What’s the best ham thickness?
- Go for slices about 1 cm thick. This keeps the ham tender and juicy while cooking.