Skip to content

Meat, Northern, Eastern and Western France

Ham in pastry crust with green salad

Ham in pastry crust is a cooked smoked ham wrapped in bread dough and baked until golden, served warm with a green salad. This recipe serves 4, takes about 2 hours 10 minutes, rates as medium difficulty, and costs €3.00 per person. The key to success is sealing the dough well and letting the ham come to room temperature first for even cooking.

A tender smoked ham baked inside a golden bread crust, served warm with a green salad, perfect for a dinner that impresses.

Ham in pastry crust with green salad
Total time
2 h 10
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€3.00
Calories per person
480 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Under its golden crust, the smoked ham stays moist and picks up a light mustard flavor that seasons the meat as it bakes. The bread dough puffs up around it into a crisp shell that contrasts nicely with the tender ham inside. It's a dish that breaks from the usual roast without requiring any complicated technique.

This is the kind of recipe you pull out for a Sunday family meal or a dinner with friends, when you want something that looks impressive without taking hours of work. Kids usually love the bread crust as much as the ham, and a simple green salad on the side rounds out the meal without extra effort.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Cooked smoked ham 1.2 kg

Bakery

  • Bread dough 500 g

Pantry

  • Mustardoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Vinaigretteoften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Flouroften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Egg 1

Fruits and vegetables

  • Green salad 1

Allergens Gluten, Mustard

The step by step recipe

  1. Take the ham out of the fridge an hour ahead, remove the rind and tie it with kitchen string.

    A ham at room temperature cooks more evenly in the center.

  2. Roll out the bread dough into a rectangle on a floured surface.

    Flour well so the dough doesn't stick.

  3. Brush the ham with mustard, wrap it in the dough and seal the edges.

    Dampen the edges with water to seal them well.

  4. Place on a baking sheet, brush with beaten egg and score a few lines with a knife. 10 min

    Diamond patterns give a nice look.

  5. Bake at 190°C, let cool for ten minutes, slice and serve with the salad. 1 h

    Cover with foil if the crust browns too fast.

Our tips to get it right

  • Make sure the bread dough sits at room temperature before rolling it out, it stretches more easily and tears less.
  • Tie the ham with kitchen string before wrapping it, this helps it hold a regular shape while baking and makes slicing easier afterward.
  • Really let the ham rest for ten minutes once out of the oven, the crust firms up and you get cleaner slices.

The variations

  • Swap the regular mustard for whole grain mustard for a stronger flavor and a bit of texture under the crust.
  • For a quicker version, use store bought puff pastry instead of bread dough, it bakes in less time.
  • For kids, cut the ham into smaller pieces before wrapping it, this gives individual portions that are easy to serve.

What to serve it with

  • A warm potato salad
  • A glass of sparkling apple juice
  • Pickles and small pickled onions

Storage

Ham in pastry crust keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well once cooked and cooled, reheat it in the oven to keep the crust crisp. Avoid the microwave, which softens the dough.

Questions about this dish

Can I prepare the ham in pastry crust ahead of time?

You can wrap the ham in dough the day before and keep it covered in the fridge. Take it out an hour before baking so it cooks evenly.

What dough can I use if I don't have bread dough?

Store bought puff pastry works really well and gives a lighter crust. The baking time will be a bit shorter, so watch the color closely.

Why put mustard under the crust?

It brings out the flavor of the smoked ham without overpowering it and keeps the meat from tasting dry. A thin layer is enough, you don't need much.

Does ham in pastry crust freeze well?

Yes, once it's baked and fully cooled. Reheat it in the oven rather than the microwave so the crust stays crisp.

How long does it take to make a ham in pastry crust with green salad?

Count 2 h 10 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a ham in pastry crust with green salad?

About 480 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a ham in pastry crust with green salad cost?

About €3.00 per serving, or €12.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, mustard. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

Cuisine from Northern, Eastern and Western France

See all

Recipes with ham

See all