Cipriani’s Baked Tagliolini (simple version)
Based on a dish from Cipriani’s Harry’s bar in Venice, this tagliolini au gratin recipe is a real gem. All you need is pasta, eggs, ham, grated Parmigiano and cream and 30 minutes 0f your time to have this family favourite on the table. Also a great way to use up leftover holiday ham.
Gratin di tagliolini panna e prosciutto.
I’m always on the lookout for easy peasy recipes that can be thrown together at a moment’s notice but are still very tasty and will be loved by everyone! In the world of Italian pasta, there are many! Interestingly, most of these don’t find their way on to restaurant menus or celebrity cook shows.
Of those that do, pasta cacio e pepe is one that comes to mind, aglio, olio e peperoncino is another. The latter is my hubby’s go-to recipe when we’ve got a houseful of unexpected hungry guests! This tagliolini au gratin has just been added to MY go-to list for moments when you need something quick and easy to make!
In my opinion, this recipe is an Italian gem. All it takes is some tagliolini or tagliatelle pasta, eggs, cooked ham, grated Parmigiano and cream. There is another version of this recipe that includes béchamel and requires cooking the ham for a couple of minutes in butter; a little more work but definitely worth trying out too.
Cipriani’s tagliolini au gratin.
That recipe is said to have been created at the very famous Cipriani’s Harry’s bar in Venice, Veneto back in the 60’s and is still served in Cipriani restaurants around the world. It was, apparently, one of the favourites of opera singer Maria Callas.
In this much simpler version of tagliolini au gratin with ham, the only cooking required is boiling the pasta and baking the dish in the oven for about 15 minutes. Can’t get much easier than that!
What is tagliolini pasta?
Tagliolini, as the name suggests, is related to tagliatelle. However, although both are egg pasta ribbons, they are different. Tagliolini is a lot finer. In fact, it is somewhere between angel hair pasta and tagliatelle. It’s a regional pasta in Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Piemonte and Molise. But, also very popular in other regions. You can read more about this pasta in my tagliolini post.
Here in Italy, we can buy fresh ready-made tagliolini as well as dried tagliolini nests. I used the former for this recipe and the latter for my recently published sweet pasta recipe pastiera Napoletana.
Making this tagliolini au gratin
This recipe requires very little prep. First just cut the ham into small cubes or juliennes. Then beat the egg yolks with the cream. Next add the ham to the eggs and cream with some salt and freshly ground black pepper.
After cooking the pasta al dente, drain it and put in a bowl. Mix a little butter and some Parmigiano into it. Then pour in the ham, cream and eggs. Mix everything together well and then put the pasta and sauce into an oven dish. You can also put the buttered pasta into the oven dish first and then pour the sauce over it.
Sprinkle with more cheese, add a few bits of butter and your tagliolini au gratin is ready to bake! The result? Delicious! I’m sure, once you have tried it, this recipe will be added to your quick and easy to make go-to list too! Tip for mums..kids love this dish!
If you make this tagliolini au gratin with ham and cream recipe, I’d love to hear how it turns out. Please write a comment here on the blog, email me or post a comment on the Pasta Project Facebook page.
Your feedback is really appreciated!
Buon Appetito!
Other delicious tagliolini recipes on The Pasta Project.
- Neapolitan tagliolini pasta pie
- Tagliolini with taleggio and black truffle
- Tagliolini with white truffle
- Summer tagliolini with marinated vegetables
- Pasta arancini from Naples
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This recipe was first published in 2018 but has been updated with new photos and text.
Tagliolini au gratin with ham and cream
Ingredients
- 320 g tagliolini (11oz) or tagliatelle
- 150 g cooked ham (5oz)
- 2 egg yolks
- 50 g Parmigiano cheese (2oz) grated
- 50 g butter (2oz)
- 200 ml heavy cream (Italian panna da cucina) (1 cup) you can also use single fresh cream but will need to reduce it or use less.
- 1/2 handful fresh parsely
- salt for pasta and to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. When it starts to boil, add salt and bring to the boil again.
- Cut the cooked ham into small pieces.
- In a bowl, whisk the cream together with the egg yolks, salt and pepper.
- Add the cooked ham and mix.
- Cook the pasta al dente in the boiling salted water according to the instructions on the packet. Save a cup of the cooking water when the pasta is almost cooked.
- Drain the pasta and return it to the pan or pour into a large bowl. Add the butter and most of the grated Parmigiano cheese. Mix well. If necessary add a little of the pasta cooking water to get a creamy consistency.
- Add the ham and cream mixture to the pasta and mix again. Then pour everything into a buttered oven dish. Sprinkle with more grated Parmigiano and add some small pieces of butter.
- Bake in a hot 180 °c oven (356°F) for about 15 minutes until the top is crispy and golden. Wait 2-3 minutes before serving the tagliolini au gratin. Serve with a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
If you are interested in learning how to make 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?
This recipe was great. I used North Carolina country ham and my homemade tagliolini and baked the pasta in individual pottery casserole dishes (that I made). I have an insulated tote that allowed us to enjoy the warm pasta at a cool tailgate (outdoor picnic in the parking lot before a sporting event).
I’m down for anything with cheese and ham! And with pasta?! This sounds like a dream dish.
I have everything I need to try this! I think I’ll make it for my husband’s birthday. It looks just perfect!
Venice has been on my mind a lot lately. This tagliolini au gratin recipe is a great way to travel to Venice without leaving the house. So yummy!
This is a delectable and easy-to-make dish. It’s the perfect meal to use up leftover ham too.
This looks amazing! All your pasta dishes are incredible!
This ham and cheese pasta dish is the ultimate comfort food. it’s going to be on repeat here now that the weather is cooling off!
Creamy, heart, and delicious! This is such an amazing pasta recipe and a great recipe to use to mix things up!
Love easy and tasty pasta recipes! They are perfect for a busy weeknight and family weekend dinner!
made this recipe tonight and everyone loved it!
I could eat pasta for dinner every night of the week. This looks so delicious. I would make lots just for leftovers.
This looks so yummy and I cannot wait to eat this. Thanks for the recipe and we will definitely try this at home
This recipe looks so yummy! And very easy. I love tagliolini, and yes, ham! I will be happy to try it one of these evenings during our holiday season. Thanks for sharing.
I love pasta. I think we eat pasta 3 to 5 times a week. And your recipe is so easy and looks so tasty, I will include it to my “recipe I love to eat”.
Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful to know about this dish Jacqueline, seems simple to make and with very few ingredients. The final dish looks so appealing and inviting.
Thanks for your comment Nisha! Yes this is definitely a simple dish but very tasty!
Can I make
This with spaghetti noodles? What other noodles are similar to yours? I live in Japan so the noodles are a bit different here. What would be the closest you think? Thanks
Hi Felicia, I know you wrote this comment a long time ago. I guess I must have missed it! Sorry! Yes, of course, you can use spaghetti in this dish. It works with any long pasta noodle but even pasta tubes would be delicious too!
This sounds amazing. I love the addition of ham in this. So many awesome flavors and loving how easy it is to make!
Happy you like this recipe Danielle! Yes the ham really adds flavour. Also a great way to use up leftover ham after Thanksgiving or Christmas!
Looks so delicious and perfect for dinner!
Thank you Natalie! This is a really delicious way to make a baked pasta dinner. I hope you’ll try it!
We miss Italy so much when we are not there, and the pasta, don’t get us started! This pasta looks incredible. Nice with the fresh pasta and baking g it tells us it is going to deliver in texture and flavor. Thanks for sharing! I want some pasta now!❤
Oh this looks and sounds marvelous! What a comforting dish to try!
Thank you Catherine! Yes this is perfect comfort food and so easy to make too!
This is my kind of dinner! Great way to use any leftover ham as well!
Glad you like it Kristina! Definitely a great way to use up that leftover ham!
Made this recipe tonight. It was a big hit. My husband is Italian and hard to please. He loved it. So easy.
Thank you so much for your comment Nona. I’m really happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe! I agree this dish is so easy to make and yet really delicious!
Sounds so comforting and hearty – kind of like a baked carbonara.
Grazie dear Caroline! Exactly baked carbonara!
I love such amazing things. They are always on my wish list. Sure with the Family.
Thank you Veena! Yes this is definitely a recipe to try. I’m sure your kids will love it!
I love the simplicity of this dish, simple ingredients and simple instructions -my kind of recipe! This would be a great way to utilize leftover holiday ham! Love this!
Thanks so much Krista! This dish is really a winner, simple to make and so delicious!Also a great way to use leftover ham!
Such a yummy winter dinner idea! This is on my weekly meal rotation!
Thanks Kim! I’m sure you’ll be including this recipe on your weekly meal rotation for some time to come. It’s so yummy and easy to make!
I never had anything like this and it will surely be on my lists of must make soon looks terrific!
Grazie Claudia! This baked tagliolini is an absolute winner. I’m sure you’ll love it!
I think even my very picky oldest son might even like this dish! I can hope at least. looks amazing and makes me hungry.
I love such simple and easy dinner recipes especially on really busy evenings after working all day.
I love how easy it is to make and how delicious the finished dish looks! I’m all for easy and tasty recipes !
Pasta with Ham and Cheese, just cant wait to relish this amazing dish. Will definitely try it out. Delicious.
This recipe is proof that sometimes the simplest dishes are the most delicious. So creamy and comforting!
I love how easy this is to put together and I’m thinking it’s perfect to make when you have leftover ham (like some of us will this time of year). My family would love this! 🙂