Name: Baked pasta with smoked meat and cabbage – “a casserole for the whole family”
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: Pasta, smoked meat and cabbage; 350 g short pasta (fusilli, penne, elbow); 300 g smoked meat (smoked ham round, smoked pork neck, leg); 400 g sauerkraut (after draining, optionally rinsed); 1 pc large onion; 2 cloves of garlic; 20 g lard or vegetable oil; 5 g whole or crushed caraway seeds; 5 g sweet ground paprika (optional); 6 g salt (to taste; smoked meat is salty on its own); 2 g freshly ground pepper; Dressing and cheese; 2 pcs eggs; 200 ml cooking cream (approx. 12–18%) or whole milk; 100 ml milk (if you use cream, you can reduce the milk); 100 g hard cheese for grating (emmental, gouda, eidam); 10 g butter (for greasing the baking dish)

Baked pasta with smoked meat and cabbage – “a casserole for the whole family”

Baked pasta with smoked meat and cabbage is a kind of “casserole of certainty” – you throw in pasta, fragrant smoked meat, sauerkraut, pour over a simple egg-and-cream mix, sprinkle with cheese, and the oven takes care of the rest. No complicated sauces, just a few accessible ingredients and a result that is hearty, slightly cabbage-forward, and works great as a warm dinner or quick lunch for the whole family. It also reheats well, so you can make a larger casserole and be set for two days.

⏱ 50 min● easy♨ 4 servings

Step by step

Instructions

0 z 8

1Step 1First, bring salted water to a boil for the pasta. Once it starts boiling, add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions, preferably al dente — it will continue baking in the oven and you don't want it mushy. After cooking, drain, rinse briefly with cold water so it doesn't stick, and let it drain in a colander.
2Step 2Drain the sauerkraut, optionally rinse briefly with cold water if it is very sour. It depends on how strong a flavor you want — some acidity will be lost during baking. If the sauerkraut is long, you can chop it a bit so it mixes better with the pasta.
3Step 3Heat lard or oil in a pan. Add the onion cut into cubes and sauté over medium heat until golden. Add the smoked meat cut into cubes or strips and fry for a while until it releases fat and becomes fragrant.
4Step 4Add the sauerkraut to the onion and smoked meat, sprinkle with caraway (and paprika if desired), salt (carefully because of the smoked meat), pepper, and mix. Sauté for a few minutes so the sauerkraut softens and the flavors meld, but don't let it turn to mush. Finally add the crushed garlic, let it release its aroma briefly, and remove the pan from the heat.
5Step 5Preheat the oven to 180 °C (top/bottom heat). Grease a baking dish or casserole with butter. In a bowl, mix the cooked pasta with the sautéed smoked meat and cabbage – try to combine the filling evenly, then transfer it to the greased dish and smooth lightly.
6Step 6In a small bowl, beat the eggs, pour in the cream and milk, season with a pinch of salt and pepper. You can add a small handful of grated cheese directly to the custard, saving the rest for the top. Pour the custard evenly over the pasta in the dish – it will fill the gaps and bind everything nicely while baking.
7Step 7Sprinkle the surface with grated cheese. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 25–30 minutes, until the custard sets, the pasta is heated through, and the cheese on top turns golden and begins to crisp.
8Step 8Let the baked pasta rest for a few minutes after removing it from the oven – it will cut and serve more easily. Serve on its own, or with a simple vegetable salad (for example just tomato, cucumber, onion) as a fresh contrast to the smoked meat and cabbage.

Kitchen tip

If you’re cooking for two, feel free to make the whole batch and save the rest in a container — baked pasta holds its shape well and you can just reheat it at work in the microwave the next day. For a better crust when reheating, pop the portion briefly under the oven’s top heating element or into an air fryer.

Customize this recipe

Variants and alternatives

Slightly “fit” version: replace part of the pasta with whole grain, swap the cream for low‑fat milk, and add more cabbage in place of some of the smoked meat — the flavor stays but the dish will be a bit lighter.

Approximate per serving

Nutritional values

Energie720 kcalProteins32 gSacharidy65 gTuky37 g

Baked pasta with smoked meat and cabbage – “a casserole for the whole family”

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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