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!
More delicious pasta 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
- Ham and cheese pasta bake
- Schinkenfleckerl baked pasta and ham
Save this recipe for later?
If you want to save this recipe for later, you can print it, bookmark this page or save it to Pinterest.
If you love ham and pasta have a look at these traditional Italian pasta with ham recipes.
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.
- ½ 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
Nutrition
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?
michele says
This deeply good. I made it for family who were making a long drive, and it was so helpful to be able to prep ahead of time and then bake at the last minute when they arrived. We all loved it, including my one-year-old grandson. The tastes are wonderful, and the texture with the tagliolini is great. I am really glad I was able to get this pasta type, as I think it makes a real difference. I used some of the last of a very good large bone- in ham that I had frozen after our Christmas dinner. Despite the cream, butter, and egg yolk it doesn't taste overly rich, just very satisfying. Thank you again, Jacqui
Lisa says
I used to get something similar when I was in Germany at a little Italian restaurant. It has a rose color to the cream sauce. Have you made something similar?
This recipe is very good, thank you.
Jacqui says
Hi Lisa, thanks for your comment. I haven't seen or made this recipe with a rose colour sauce. But I would imagine they added tomato (perhaps paste?) to get the rose colour. Happy you like the recipe.
Albert Premier says
Jacqueline,
I have a question: how does one in Italian polite society eat those taglioni au gratin? Does one use fork & spoon? With just a fork seems to me a bit difficult.
This recipe reminds me a bit of the very Dutch "macaroni ham & kaas" (macaroni ham & cheese) wich, unlike the American mac'ncheese (with sauce Mornay) is made with an egg & cream (or just milk, the Dutch are notoriously thrifty) mixture.
Regards,
Albair.
George says
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).
Alex says
I'm down for anything with cheese and ham! And with pasta?! This sounds like a dream dish.
Erin says
I have everything I need to try this! I think I'll make it for my husband's birthday. It looks just perfect!
Elaine says
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!
Sharon says
This is a delectable and easy-to-make dish. It's the perfect meal to use up leftover ham too.
Veronika Sykorova says
This looks amazing! All your pasta dishes are incredible!
Lauren Michael Harris says
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!
Leslie says
Creamy, heart, and delicious! This is such an amazing pasta recipe and a great recipe to use to mix things up!
Veronika says
Love easy and tasty pasta recipes! They are perfect for a busy weeknight and family weekend dinner!
nancy says
made this recipe tonight and everyone loved it!
Gloria says
I could eat pasta for dinner every night of the week. This looks so delicious. I would make lots just for leftovers.