Name: Ham pasta bake with smoked meat – hearty Czech classic from one casserole
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients: 350 g fleky or other short pasta (elbows, penne); 350 g smoked meat (smoked pork neck/shoulder/ham whole, diced); 1 pc large onion; 20 g lard or butter (for the onion); 4 pcs eggs; 250 ml milk (or cooking cream for a juicier version); 2 g ground pepper; 6 g salt (careful – smoked meat is salty); 10 g butter to grease the baking dish; optional for serving: pickled cucumber or sauerkraut

Ham pasta bake with smoked meat – hearty Czech classic from one casserole

Ham pasta bake with smoked meat is the kind of “homey” dish. No complicated spices, no sauces – just pasta, smoked meat, onion, eggs and a bit of pepper. Everything is mixed, put in a casserole dish and the oven does the rest. And even though the recipe is very simple, it has one big advantage: when done right it’s nicely juicy, not dry. And reheated the next day it often tastes even better. Ideal lunch for a family, a “two-day” meal and a classic you can take in a box to work.

⏱ 55 min● easy♨ 2 servings

Step by step

Instructions

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1Step 1Preheat the oven to 180 °C (top/bottom heat) and grease the baking dish with butter. This isn’t a trivial detail — a greased dish helps prevent sticking and adds a subtle flavor.
2Step 2Bring salted water to a boil and cook the pasta shells according to the package instructions, aiming for “al dente.” They’ll finish in the oven, so it’s better not to overcook them. Drain the cooked pasta and let it drain well.
3Step 3Meanwhile, heat lard or butter in a pan. Add finely chopped onion and sauté over medium heat until golden. The onion is important here — it adds sweetness and turns simple shells into a really good dish. Once the onion is golden, add diced smoked meat and briefly sauté to warm it and release its aroma. There’s no need to fry it long, just to “wake it up.”
4Step 4Put the cooked pasta in a large bowl, add the smoked meat with the onion (including the fat from the pan — it adds juiciness) and mix. Pepper and taste — be careful with salt, smoked meat is often salty on its own.
5Step 5In another bowl, whisk the eggs with milk (or cream). Add a pinch of salt and pepper. The custard is the reason šunkofleky aren’t dry: the egg binds everything and the milk adds moisture. If you want an extra juicy version, replace part of the milk with cooking cream.
6Step 6Transfer the pasta and meat mixture to a greased baking dish and smooth lightly. Pour the egg custard evenly over it and gently stir with a fork or spoon so the custard reaches the bottom – a few motions are enough, you don’t need to break it all up.
7Step 7Put the baking dish in a preheated oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, until the surface is golden and the custard is set. If you insert a knife into the center and it’s no longer liquid, it’s done. If you want a more “crispy top,” switch to top heat for the last 5 minutes.
8Step 8After baking, let the šunkofleky rest for 5–10 minutes. The custard will settle and they won’t fall apart when you cut them. Serve traditionally with pickled cucumber or sauerkraut – the acidity pairs perfectly with smoked meat and lightens the dish.

Kitchen tip

The most common problem with šunkofleky is dryness. Avoid it with three things: don’t overcook the pasta, don’t skimp on the egg-milk dressing, and leave a bit of the smoked meat/onion fat in the dish. If you reheat leftovers the next day, cover with foil and add a tablespoon of milk – it will be juicy again.

Customize this recipe

Variants and alternatives

With cheese: grate a little cheese on top (Edam, Gouda). It’s not traditional, but it tastes great and creates a crunchy crust.

Approximate per serving

Nutritional values

Energie520 kcalProteins26 gSacharidy55 gTuky22 g

Ham pasta bake with smoked meat – hearty Czech classic from one casserole

Instructions

Variants and alternatives

Nutritional values

Save this recipe for next time.

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Instructions

Variants and alternatives

Nutritional values

Save this recipe for next time.

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Homemade muesli bars with apple and raisins for a school snack

Carrot and pumpkin purée with potato for little ones in under 20 minutes

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Write a comment Cancel reply

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