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The main dish, Regional

Braised ham in Madeira sauce with homemade mashed potatoes

Braised ham in Madeira sauce is a slow cooked dish topped with a brown mushroom and cream sauce, served with homemade mashed potatoes, for 6 people. It takes 40 minutes of active work, can be made in the morning for the evening, easy level, about €4.50 per person. The key to success is the long, gentle cooking of the ham with regular basting, which gives a glossy sauce and a ham that never dries out.

A braised ham, all gentleness, glazed in a Madeira sauce, with homemade mashed potatoes done the old way.

Braised ham in Madeira sauce with homemade mashed potatoes
For
6 people
Work
40 min
Total time
2 h 30
Prep
Prepared the same day
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€4.50
Calories per person
740 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

This braised ham simmers for a long time in a broth of Madeira and veal stock, with mushrooms and shallots that flavor the sauce. Cream softens everything at the end of cooking, and the ham stays tender thanks to regular basting. It is a hearty, reassuring dish, the kind you can serve without worrying about anyone's diet.

It is an ideal recipe for a Sunday family lunch or a dinner with friends in fall or winter, when you want something comforting without spending the whole evening in the kitchen. The homemade mashed potatoes, made the old way with plenty of butter, pair perfectly with the sauce. Kids love it as much as adults do, which makes it a safe choice for meals where the whole family sits down together.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before Nothing to do
  2. The same day 3 steps, 1 h 20
  3. Before the guests arrive 2 steps, 45 min
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step

In the morning, simmer the ham with the shallots, mushrooms and Madeira in the oven for about 80 minutes, then make the cream sauce. Just before guests arrive, cook the mashed potatoes and reheat the ham in its sauce in a 140 degree oven. At serving time, slice the ham on a bias and spoon the sauce generously over it.

The ingredients

6 people

Butcher

  • Bone in cooked ham or ham roast 1.5 kg

Pantry

  • Madeira 20 cl
  • Veal stockoften in the pantry 40 cl
  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Saltoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Shallots 4
  • White mushrooms 250 g
  • Potatoes for mashing 1.5 kg

Dairy

  • Heavy cream 20 cl
  • Butter 160 g
  • Milk 25 cl

Allergens Lactose, Celery

The recipe, moment by moment

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Sweat the sliced shallots and mushrooms in a Dutch oven with a little butter, set the ham on top and pour in the Madeira and veal stock.

    Let the Madeira boil for a minute before adding the stock, the alcohol cooks off and the flavor rounds out.

  2. Cover and bake at 160 degrees, basting regularly, turning the ham halfway through cooking. 1 h 20

    A long, gentle cooking turns the sauce into a glossy brown jus.

  3. Remove the ham, reduce the cooking liquid by half, add the cream and let it simmer a few minutes.

    Strain the sauce through a sieve if you want it smooth, but the mushrooms are great left as they are.

Before the guests arriveThe last hour, right before the doorbell rings.

  1. Peel the potatoes, cook them in salted water, then pass them through a potato ricer. 25 min

    Mash them while hot, cold they turn gluey.

  2. Stir in the butter in pieces, the warm milk and the nutmeg, and reheat the ham in its sauce in a 140 degree oven. 20 min

    Pour the warm milk in gradually, the mash stays soft and smooth.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Slice the ham into thick slices and serve with the sauce and mashed potatoes.

    Slice on a bias, the slices look wider and more tender.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a bone in cooked ham rather than a boneless ham roast if you can, it releases more juices and gives the sauce more depth.
  • If the sauce seems too thin after reducing, let it simmer uncovered a few more minutes before adding the cream.
  • Keep a bit of warm veal stock or water on hand while the dish reheats in the oven, to loosen the sauce if it starts to stick.

The variations

  • Swap the Madeira for port or dry white wine, the sauce takes on a slightly different character but stays just as good.
  • For a quicker version, use an already sliced ham roast and cut the oven time down to 50 minutes.
  • For kids who don't like mushrooms, blend the sauce completely right after reducing it, it stays creamy with no chunks.

What to serve it with

  • A green salad with sharp vinaigrette
  • Steamed green beans
  • A glass of light red wine

Storage

The ham in its sauce keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. The mashed potatoes don't hold up as well, they're better made the same day. Reheat the ham covered, over low heat or in the oven, so it doesn't dry out.

Questions about this recipe

Can you use a different cut instead of bone in ham?

Yes, a boneless ham roast works well and is easier to slice. Bone in ham simply releases more juices during cooking, giving a slightly richer sauce.

How do you know when the ham is done?

The ham is ready when it slices easily and the sauce has reduced and thickened. The long, gentle cooking is mainly there to let the ham soak up the sauce, not to tenderize it.

Can this be made for more than 6 people?

Yes, just scale up the ham and mashed potatoes proportionally. You can keep the sauce amount the same for 8 people, it's still enough if you serve it generously.

How do you plate the ham so it looks good?

Slice it on a bias into thick slices, spoon the sauce over right before serving, and keep a few whole mushrooms on top. Serve the mashed potatoes alongside with a knob of melted butter.

Can a braised ham in Madeira sauce with homemade mashed potatoes be made ahead?

Yes, during the day. The recipe needs 40 min of work in total, split up like this, the same day, 3 steps, before the guests arrive, 2 steps, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make a braised ham in Madeira sauce with homemade mashed potatoes?

Allow 2 h 30 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 40 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "easy".

How many calories are in a braised ham in Madeira sauce with homemade mashed potatoes?

About 740 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a braised ham in Madeira sauce with homemade mashed potatoes cost?

About €4.50 per person, that's €27.00 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose, celery. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

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