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Home » Italy's Regions » Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol

Published: May 5, 2023 by Jacqui

Schinkenfleckerl Baked Pasta and Ham


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Schinkenfleckerl is a rich baked pasta and ham recipe from Italy’s South Tyrol and Austria. This ham and noodle casserole calls for traditionally homemade egg pasta squares baked with sour cream, eggs, ham and breadcrumbs. Of course, this dish can be made with other types of pasta too.

Schinkenfleckerl baked pasta amd ham casserole.

Where is the South Tyrol?

Also called the Alto Adige in Italian, this beautiful mountain region lies in Northeast Italy, on the border with Austria. It’s part of the autonomous Trentino-Alto Adige region.

This stunning part of Italy stretches across the Dolomite Alps and is, of course, very mountainous and covered in pine forests. The food, culture and lifestyle of the South Tyrol seems more central European than Italian.

Schinkenfleckerl baked pasta and ham casserole.

What is fleckerl pasta?

Fleckerl pasta is traditionally homemade egg pasta squares. This pasta is the basis of a number of typical Austrian dishes such as Krautfleckerl (cabbage and pasta) or Grenadiermarsch (potatoes, pasta and sometimes bacon of ham hock)) and the Schinkenfleckerl pasta and ham casserole in this recipe.

In The South Tyrol, Austria, Germany and Hungary, it's possible to buy dried fleckerl. These are usually made from eggs and hard wheat flour and may have slightly ruffled edges.

Ingredients for schinkenfleckerl on white plate.
Step 1 Gather your ingredients.

You can find versons of krautfleckerl and/or grenadiermarsch in Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Polish and German cuisine, as well as other regions which were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Schinkenfleckerl, on the other hand, seems to be mostly an Austrian, German or Northern Italian recipe. However, fleckerl pasta is also used in a similar South Tyrolean recipe called schunchenfletz, another baked pasta and ham recipe which is a simplified version schinkenflekerl.

Ball of fresh egg pasta dough on wood pastry board.
Step 2 Make the pasta dough (instructions below recipe card)

Italian recipes with German names.

The Italian South Tyrol was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1919 and this is why a number of typical local dishes have German names.

In fact, although an Italian region, the majority of people in this part of Italy use German when they write and speak in an Austro-Bavarian dialect.  Plus, most streets and towns have both an Italian and German name.

Rectangular sheet of homemade egg pasta dough on wood pastry board.
Step 3 Roll piece of pasta dough into a rectangular sheet.

What are pasta squares called in other parts of Italy?

Outside of the South Tyrol, Italians don’t call egg pasta squares, fleckerl. In fact, fleckerl pasta isn’t known in other parts of Italy. Instead, they refer to pasta squares as quadrucci or quadretti.

However, this pasta is often smaller than fleckerl and is mostly used in soups and broths. Italian names for larger pasta squares are quadrotti or fazzoletti.

Fresh pasta dough sheet cut into small squares on wood pastry board.
Step 4 Cut the sheet into strips and then squares (3cm x 3cm/ 1.2").

How to make homemade fleckerl pasta.

The pasta in this schinkenfleckerl recipe is quite easy to make. Mostly the dough is the same as other egg pasta like lasagne with soft wheat flour, salt and eggs, which you mix together in a bowl and then knead into a dough.

Once the dough has rested, you roll it into sheets and then cut it into squares. You can use a pasta machine (as we did) or roll the dough out with a rolling pin.

Homemade fleckerl pasta squares on white baking paper.
Step 5 Place pasta squares on floured surface until ready to cook.

If you don’t want to make your own pasta for this recipe, just half cook dried lasagne sheets or wide ribbons like pappardelle in boiling salted water, drain them and cut them into squares once they have cooled.

Alternatively, you can use ready made fresh lasagne sheets or wide egg pasta noodles.

Other ingredients in schinkenfleckerl.

The ham.

Schinken means ham in German and cooked ham is the most traditional meat used in this South Tyrolean baked pasta recipe. You can use sliced or cubed ham. This is a great recipe for using up leftover holiday ham too.

Chopped ham, egg yolks, egg whites, sour cream and breadcrumbs in separate small white bowls.
Step 6 Prepare the other ingredients.

The eggs.

This is an egg rich recipe. Eggs are used to make the pasta and inside the casserole too. So, this recipe calls for 5-6 fresh eggs, depending on the size. I like to use fresh large organic eggs. These eggs are more nutritious than others because the hens are fed high quality feed and live better lives.

Bring the eggs to room temperature before using if you keep them in the fridge.

Cooked homemade fleckerl pasta squares in white bowl with creamed butter.
Step 7 Cook the pasta in boiling water, drain it and put in a bowl with creamed butter.

Breadcrumbs.

You can use homemade or store-bought breadcrumbs. Some people sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top of the pasta and ham before baking. I didn’t do that this time. However, it does give the dish a slightly crispy topping.

Butter and sour cream.

As is common in Italy, I used unsalted butter. If you use salted butter, don’t add salt to the pasta and ham mixture when putting it together.

Sour cream (panna acida) isn’t widely available here in Italy, so when I can’t find it, I make my own with equal quantities of fresh cream and plain white yogurt, and a little fresh lemon juice.

Egg yolks in white bowl with cooked fleckerl pasta squares and creamed butter.
Step 8 Add the egg yolks to the pasta.

Alternatively, you can sub the sour cream with crème fraiche. This is a bit thicker than sour cream and has a higher fat content, but it works well in this recipe.

How to make schinkenfleckerl.

Once you have made the pasta dough (see step by step instructions below the recipe card) and rolled it out into sheets, you will need to cut it into 3x3cm (1.2in) squares. Place the ready squares on a floured surface until it’s time to cook them.

Pro Tip : The pasta squares don't need to be perfect just more or less the same size.

Sour cream added to white bowl with cooked pasta squares and egg yolks.
Step 9 Add the sour cream.

2. The next step in this schinkenfleckerl recipe is to put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta and prepare the other ingredients. Cut the ham into small cubes. Next separate the egg yolks and whites and cream the butter. Then butter an oven dish and coat the bottom and sides with breadcrumbs.

Small cubes of cooked ham added to white bowl with pasta squares, egg yolks and sour cream.
Step 10 Add the ham to the pasta mixture.

3. Cook the pasta in the boiling salted water until al dente. Homemade fleckerl takes about 5 minutes. Then drain the pasta and put it in a large bowl. Mix in the creamed butter and allow to cool.

4. Next, add the beaten egg yolks, the sour cream, and the ham. Mix everything together and season with salt and pepper.

Whipped egg whites added to white bowl with other schinkenfleckerl ingredients.
Step 11 Whip the egg whites until stiff and then fold them into the pasta mixture.

5. Whip the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the pasta and ham mixture.

6. Pour the pasta and ham mixture into the breadcrumb coated oven dish and bake for about 35-45 minutes in a preheated oven at 180°c. Allow your schinkenfleckerl to rest for 5 minutes before cutting into portions and serving.

Uncooked schinkenfleckerl (pasta and ham casserole) in oven dish
Step 12. Butter an oven dish. Coat the inside with breadcrumbs. Add the uncooked schinkenfleckerl and bake for 40mins.

What to do with leftovers

If you have leftovers of this schinkenfeckerl baked pasta and ham, you can keep them sealed in the fridge for a day or two. I like to reheat leftovers as individual portions in the microwave or in a very hot oven.

Schinkenfleckerl baked pasta and ham casserole.

Let me know what you think.

Whether you make your own pasta squares, use ready dried fleckerl pasta or go for another type of pasta, this baked noodle and ham casserole is sure to become a family favourite. It's rich, creamy and so very tasty. The kids will love it too!

If you do try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think. Please do write a review here on the blog or post a comment on the Pasta Project Facebook page.

Your feedback means a lot to me!

Buon Appetito!

Schinkenfleckerl baked pasta and ham casserole

Schinkenfleckerl Baked Pasta and Ham Casserole

Jacqui
This rich and creamy baked pasta and ham is a traditional recipe from Italy's South Tyrol and Austria. The pasta is homemade and baked with eggs, ham, sour cream, butter and breadcrumbs. Of course, you can use other types of pasta too.
5 from 45 votes
Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved! Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
For homemade pasta 1 hour hr
Total Time 2 hours hrs
Course Homemade Pasta, Main Course
Cuisine Northern Italy, South Tyrol, Trentino-Alto Adige
Servings 4
Calories 636 kcal

Ingredients
  

To make egg pasta squares (fleckerl)

  • 7 oz Italian 00 soft wheat flour (200g) or all purpose flour
  • 2 eggs (large) or 1 egg and ½ cup of tepid water
  • 1 pinch salt

For schinkenfleckerl (pasta and ham cassserole)

  • 9 oz egg pasta squares (fleckerl) (250g) or lasagne sheets or wide noodles cut into squares.
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 egg whites
  • 2.5 oz butter (75g) unsalted
  • 9 oz cooked ham cut into small cubes (250g)
  • 9 floz sour cream (250ml)
  • salt for pasta and to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper. to taste
  • butter to grease baking dish
  • breadcrumbs to line baking dish

Instructions
 

Make pasta squares (fleckerl)

  • Follow instructions to make fresh egg pasta dough sheets below.
  • Lay each ready dough sheet on a flour dusted work surface and cut it into small squares about 3 x 3 cm (1.2in). The squares don’t need to be perfect but more or less the same size.
  • Place the ready pasta squares on a flour dusted tray and repeat with the rest of the dough.

Prepare the other ingredients.

  • Cut the ham into small cubes. Next separate the egg yolks and whites and cream the butter with a fork. Then grease an oven dish with a small amount of butter and coat the bottom and sides with breadcrumbs.
  • Put a pot of water onto boil for the pasta. Add salt and cook the pasta until al dente. Homemade fleckerl takes about 5 minutes

Assemble and bake your schinkenfleckerl.

  • Put the cooked and drained pasta in a large bowl. Mix in the creamed butter and allow to cool.
  • Next, add the beaten egg yolks, then the sour cream, and the ham. Mix everything together and season with salt and pepper.
  • Whip the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the pasta and ham mixture. Pour the pasta and ham mixture into the breadcrumb lined oven dish. Gently spread it so it's level.
  • Bake for about 45 minutes in a preheated oven at 180°c. Allow your schinkenfleckerl torest for 5 minutes before cutting into portions and serving.
Prevent your screen from going dark

Notes

You can sprinkle the top of your pasta and ham casserole with more breadcrumbs to make it crispier.
This Schinkenfleckerl recipe can be made with store bought dried fleckerl or pasta squares cut from dried or fresh lasagne sheets or wide egg noodles.  The dried pasta will have to be pre-cooked before cutting.
Leftovers can be kept sealed in the fridge for 1-3 days and reheated in the microwave or a very hot oven. Freezing this dish isn't recommended.

Nutrition

Calories: 636kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 26gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 275mgSodium: 914mgPotassium: 457mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1027IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 110mgIron: 2mg
Keyword baked pasta recipe, schinkenfleckerl
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Other family friendly baked pasta recipes with ham.

  1. Tagliolini au gratin from Venice.
  2. Neapolitan baked ziti.
  3. Lasagna Valdostana from The Aosta valley.
  4. Neapolitan tagliolini pasta pie.
  5. Baked pasta roses from Emilia-Romagna.

Pin for later.

Schinkenfleckerl baked pasta and ham casserole.

How to make fresh egg pasta sheets.

Soft wheat flour in a white bowl with eggs.

Sift the flour into a bowl, add a pinch of salt and 2 eggs.

Beaten eggs in soft wheat flour in white bowl.

Beat the eggs with a fork and then mix them into the flour until they are well incorporated.

Eggs and flour mixed together in white bowl.

Using your hands mix and knead until you have a dough that no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl.

Fresh egg pasta dough inside white bowl.

Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface or pastry board. Knead for 7-10 minutes until the dough is soft, pliable, and elastic.

Ball of fresh egg pasta dough on flour dusted wood pastry board.

Roll the dough into a ball. Wrap it in clingfilm or a damp tea towel and let it rest for about 30 minutes.

Piece of fresh egg pasta dough on wood pastry board.

Once the dough has rested cut off a third and rewrap the rest to keep it from drying out. Flatten the dough piece you cut off with your hand or a rolling pin so it will pass through the widest setting of your pasta machine.

Fresh egg pasta sheet folded into thirds.

Pass the dough through the widest setting of your pasta machine. Fold it in thirds and pass it through again. Do this 2 to 3 times. Then, pass the sheet through the machine 2 or 3 times more on narrower settings.

Fresh egg pasta sheet in pasta machine.

The widest setting on my machine is 7. After 7 I then pass the dough through 5 and then 3. The dough sheet doesn’t need to be super thin to make pasta squares. On some machines the widest setting is 1.

You can also just roll out the dough with a rolling pin.

If you are interested in learning how to make other homemade pasta and different types of gnocchi, check out my shop page for some great video online courses from my friends in Rome! Nothing beats learning to make pasta from Italians! Plus while you’re there why not order a copy of one of my pasta recipe cookbooks or checkout some recommended pasta making tools?


More Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol

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    Fried Canederli (Canederli Pressati) from The South Tyrol.
  • Sausage and cabbage pasta
    Sausage and Cabbage Pasta.
  • Ham and cheese pasta bake.
    Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake Recipe from the South Tyrol

Reader Interactions

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Veronika says

    May 29, 2023 at 8:23 am

    This casserole was delicious! My mom used to make something similar back home in Czech rep. So good!

    Reply
  2. Dennis says

    May 28, 2023 at 3:02 pm

    This is definitely comfort food at its best! I can't wait to make this for my family.

    Reply
  3. Isabelle says

    May 28, 2023 at 2:48 am

    I made this for an "around the world" pot luck and the dish was thoroughly enjoyed. Can it be prepared ahead of time, refrigerated and then cooked a few days later?

    Reply
  4. Kristina says

    May 28, 2023 at 2:46 am

    Made this with pre cooked lasagne sheets as I have never seen pasta squares around me, and sprinkled it with breadcrumbs as suggested to make it extra crispy. It was delicious.

    Reply
  5. Lauren Michael Harris says

    May 26, 2023 at 7:47 pm

    I love how simple this pasta and ham casserole recipe is, yet know it will be a huge hit with the whole family. It's perfect for a filling weeknight dinner!

    Reply
  6. Tammy says

    May 26, 2023 at 5:09 pm

    Oh my goodness this sounds so delicious and wonderful! I have to make this for my family and I bet it's even better leftover the next day! 😀 Thank you for this recipe..it's so unique!

    Reply
  7. Sean says

    May 26, 2023 at 3:54 am

    This is great comfort food and the pasta and ham reminds me of one of my favorite pasta dishes carbonara.

    Reply
  8. Elaine says

    May 25, 2023 at 1:00 am

    Oh wow, what a great recipe! I will have to practice the pronunciation of the pasta name though but I bet it is totally worth it. By the way, I always aim to use unsalted butter with my pasta, too, especially when I use ham. I like it that way more.

    Reply
  9. Bernice says

    May 23, 2023 at 7:03 pm

    I have never identified with a dish as much as I identify with this ham casserole! This is the food of my people, half German and half (wannabe) Italian. This is pure comfort and I can't wait to have more leftover ham so I can make it again!

    Reply
  10. Gloria says

    May 22, 2023 at 8:46 pm

    You can never have too many pasta recipes. This is unique and sounds delicious. I can't wait to try this for dinner.

    Reply
  11. Jeff says

    May 07, 2023 at 1:15 am

    I've never tried to make pasta by hand, only by a machine. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  12. dina and bruce miller says

    May 06, 2023 at 11:37 pm

    The layers of flavors that this dish evokes! Yum!

    Reply
  13. dana says

    May 06, 2023 at 8:44 pm

    This looks and sounds delicious! Can't wait to try it.

    Reply
  14. Elizabeth says

    May 06, 2023 at 8:03 pm

    I've been wanting to try my hand at making homemade pasta, and this looks like a great recipe to start with. This would be a great dish to serve at a brunch. Thanks for the interesting background on the history of the Italian region too - fascinating!

    Reply

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Buon giorno and welcome to my pasta project! My name is Jacqui. I’m originally a Londoner but in 2003 life’s journey brought me to the beautiful Veneto region of Italy where…

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