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Those Sunday family meals when my mom would bring out her fancy plates for a special lunch are what inspired my Madeira ham dish. Now I keep the tradition going, but with my own spin. I love how the silky mushroom sauce, the gentle hint of Madeira wine, and perfectly cooked pasta come together to create something truly delicious that always impresses everyone at the table.
My Signature Dish
What I really love about this dish is how naturally refined it is. The woody notes in the Madeira sauce and tender mushrooms turn basic ham into something you'd find at a nice restaurant. My kids always wipe their plates clean with the tagliatelles, and guests never fail to ask what makes my sauce so good.
In My Kitchen
- Ham: 4 thick-cut slices from my local butcher
- My pasta: Fresh tagliatelles if you can get them
- For my sauce:
- 75g of quality salted butter
- 100ml of my favorite Madeira
- 3 fresh shallots
- 250g of firm button mushrooms
- My cornstarch for thickening
- Some filtered water
- My homemade veal stock
- A garden herb bundle
- Fresh-ground salt and pepper
My Step-by-Step Way
- The sauce comes first
- I always start with the sauce since it's what makes this dish special. I sweat the shallots and mushrooms in butter until they're soft and aromatic.
- The pasta cooked just right
- I watch my tagliatelles closely while they cook – I want them to have just the right amount of bite.
- The golden ham
- I quickly brown my ham in a hot pan so it stays juicy inside.
- The tasty plating
- I arrange everything with care on each plate, making sure the sauce generously covers the ham.
My Little Tips
Whenever I can, I grab wild mushrooms for an amazing flavor boost in the sauce. I always trim extra fat from the ham before cooking it. Adding a splash of Madeira to the sauce right at the end really brings out all the flavors.
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My Favorite Variations
When I don't have Madeira around, I'll use Port or a nice red wine instead. Sometimes I swap tagliatelles for pan-fried gnocchi which works really well too. For lighter dinners, I'll serve it with steamed veggies, though I must admit pasta is still my top choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I swap the Madeira?
- Sure, try using Marsala or Port instead. The flavor will change a bit but stay delicious.
- → What kind of mushrooms work best?
- Fresh button mushrooms are great, but canned ones work too. For a richer taste, use wild mushrooms.
- → How to keep the pasta warm?
- Save some pasta water, then reheat the noodles quickly in a pan with that water just before serving.
- → Can the sauce be made beforehand?
- Yes, whip it up ahead of time and heat gently later. Add a splash of water if it thickens too much.
- → What’s the ideal ham thickness?
- Go for slices about 1 cm thick. This keeps them tender and juicy when cooked.