Brazilian Ham White Sauce Lasagna
Lasagna comes in all types and sauces, but this Brazilian Ham White Sauce Lasagna is one of the most flavorful and delicious of the bunch. Made with layers of mozzarella cheese, shaved black pepper ham, lasagna noodles, and a creamy garlic white sauce, it’s a family dinner fit for a king.
The Best Ham White Sauce Lasagna Recipe
If you have only ever tasted red-sauce, tomato-based lasagna recipes, then it’s time to indulge and try something new. Creamy and flavorful, this cheesy Brazilian Ham White Sauce Lasagna recipe is the perfect place to start!
Brazilian Lasagna
Like so many other Brazilian foods, Brazilian lasagna is as diverse as the number of families who make it. Almost every family has their own version of maionese, their own favorite stroganoff, and their own recipe for lasagna. This recipe is as close to the “common” version of lasagna–the one that my family has enjoyed on our various visits with our Brazilian relatives–as we can get. (And, personally, I think it’s the best of all of them.)
Ham and Cheese Lasagna
What is the perfect pairing for lasagna? Besides the sauce, you’ve gotta have some meat in there and some cheese. Ham and mozzarella or gouda cheese strike the perfect flavor partnership in this delicious recipe. Other versions of ham lasagna might use shredded ham, ham chunks, or ham paired with ground beef. This version of Brazilian ham white sauce lasagna uses a specific type of ham: black pepper ham. The black pepper lends a bit of a bite to the well-seasoned sauce. However, if you don’t have black pepper ham or just don’t like it, there’s no harm done in substituting it out for a plain ham; the delicious, creamy sauce will still bring a highlight of flavor.
Ham White Sauce Lasagna Ingredients
White Sauce:
- 1 1/2 cups chopped tomato
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup minced white onion
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
- 1 Tbsp. dried basil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 Tbsp. chicken bouillon
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
Assembly:
- 6 large slices mozzarella cheese (smoked Gouda cheese is also a great choice)
- 8 medium-thick slices of black pepper ham (or 16 thin slices)
- 9 lasagna noodles
- Pot of boiling, salted water
- 1/3 cup freshly grated real parmesan
How to Make Brazilian Ham Lasagna
- Preheat the oven to 350F (150C).
- In a small saucepan, fry the chopped tomato, minced garlic, and minced white onion in olive oil until soft and fragrant and the onion is translucent.
- Add the spices (garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, chicken bouillon, paprika) and stir well.
- Mix in the heavy cream and milk and continue to cook until warmed through.
- In a separate stockpot, bring salted water to a boil. One by one, place the lasagna noodles in the boiling water and allow them to cook, fully submerged, for about 1 minute each, or until they begin to tenderize. (There is no need for them to be fully cooked at this point, as they will continue to cook in the sauce while baking in the oven.)
- ASSEMBLY: Lightly grease an 8×8, 9×9, or 7×10 baking dish with olive oil. Lay down a very thin layer of the white cream sauce (about 1/4 cup). Then lay a layer of 3 of the semi-cooked lasagna noodles. Follow this up with a layer of 3 slices of mozzarella cheese. Next, a layer of 4 slices of black pepper ham. (If using thinly sliced ham, then use 6 slices of ham in this layer.) Repeat the process, with a layer each of sauce, noodles, cheese, and ham. After the second layer, lay down a layer of lasagna noodles. Top with the remaining sauce (All of it! Be generous here!). Sprinkle the freshly grated parmesan all over the top of the lasagna.
- Bake for 25 minutes, turning on the broiler for the last 5 minutes of baking time to give some color to the top of the lasagna.
- Serve warm. Enjoy!
Variations
When making the white sauce, try adding any (or all) of these ingredients:
- minced green onion
- chopped fresh parsley
- chopped fresh cilantro
- sautéed mushrooms
Or try adding layers of these ingredients:
- spinach
- fresh basil
Closing Thoughts on Ham Lasagna
This recipe for Brazilian lasagna has quickly become my go-to recipe for special meals and dinners with guests. It is easily one of my favorite Brazilian foods of all time (and there is plenty of delicious Brazilian food to compare it too, friends!).
So what are you waiting for?! Try this recipe for dinner tonight and let us know how it went for you by commenting on this recipe. Leave a rating. And tag us on social media using the hashtag #thesantoscookbook.
Brazilian Ham White Sauce Lasagna
Lasagna comes in all types and creams, but this Brazilian Ham White Sauce Lasagna is one of the most flavorful and delicious of the bunch. Made with layers of mozzarella cheese, shaved black pepper ham, lasagna noodles, and garlic white sauce, it's a family dinner fit for a king.
Ingredients
WHITE SAUCE
- 1 1/2 cups chopped tomato
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup minced white onion
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
- 1 Tbsp. dried basil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 Tbsp. chicken bouillon
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
ASSEMBLY
- 6 large slices mozzarella cheese (smoked gouda cheese is also a great choice)
- 8 medium-thick slices of black pepper ham (or 16 thin slices)
- 9 lasagna noodles
- Pot of boiling, salted water
- 1/3 cup freshly grated real parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F (150C).
- In a small saucepan, fry the chopped tomato, minced garlic, and minced white onion in olive oil until soft and fragrant and the onion is translucent.
- Add the spices (garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, chicken bouillon, paprika) and stir well.
- Mix in the heavy cream and milk and continue to cook until warmed through.
- In a separate stockpot, bring salted water to a boil. One by one, place the lasagna noodles in the boiling water and allow them to cook, fully submerged, for about 1 minute each, or until they begin to tenderize. (There is no need for them to be fully cooked at this point, as they will continue to cook in the sauce while baking in the oven.)
- ASSEMBLY: Lightly grease an 8x8, 9x9, or 7x10 baking dish with olive oil. Lay down a very thin layer of the white cream sauce (about 1/4 cup). Then lay a layer of 3 of the semi-cooked lasagna noodles. Follow this up with a layer of 3 slices of mozzarella cheese. Next, a layer of 4 slices of black pepper ham. (If using thinly sliced ham, then use 8 slices of ham in this layer.) Repeat the process, with a layer each of sauce, noodles, cheese, and ham. After the second layer, lay down a layer of lasagna noodles. Top with the remaining sauce (All of it! Be generous here!). Sprinkle the freshly grated parmesan all over the top of the lasagna.
- Bake for 25 minutes, turning on the broiler for the last 5 minutes of baking time to give some color to the top of the lasagna.
- Serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
When making the white sauce, try adding any (or all) of these ingredients: minced green onion, chopped fresh parsley, chopped fresh cilantro, sautéed mushrooms.
Or try adding layers of these ingredients: spinach, fresh basil.
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