BANANA HAM PIE

INGREDIENTS

- 3 ripe bananas (Preferably ripe, as they are softer)

- 6 slices cooked ham

- 125 g mozzarella cheese

- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

- 1 1/2 tablespoon all purpose flour

- 1/2 cup evaporated milk

- 1/2 cup water

- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs

- Dash of nutmeg

- Dash of pepper

- Piece of butter for greasing the mold and sprinkling on top.

PREP TIME: 40 MIN

PREPARATION

Preheat the oven to 350ºF or 175ºC .

Grease an oven proof dish, just the size to fit 3 large bananas on a single layer. Put aside.

Prepare a WHITE SAUCE similar to bechamel, we will use two tablespoons unsalted butter.  Place the butter in a heat resistant bowl, better if it is glass. Melt  the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds, when butter is melted you add 1 ½ tablespoons of flour and stir it until it looks smooth and without any lumps. Then you add evaporated milk, ½ cup of milk and ½ cup of water to complete one cup of liquid, continue stirring until it is all incorporated. Put this  in the microwave for 1 minute, remove  and stir  , return to the microwave for 30 more seconds. Remove and stir again. Repeat this for three more times for 30 seconds each time and keep stirring until the mixture thickens, it has to look like a sauce, then you add a dash of grinded black pepper and nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder and 1/2  teaspoon of salt, stir well.

Meanwhile, peel 3 bananas and wrap each one with 2 slices of ham , laying  this in the previously buttered dish.  Pour the white sauce over the bananas rolled in  ham, slice the cheese  and lay  the slices over the sauce carefully, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs and tiny pieces of butter over it. This will help to create a crusty top.

Finally place the dish in the center of the preheated oven. Bake at 350ºF for 15 minutes until you see the crust looks golden in color. Remove from the oven and let it set for 10 minutes before you serve. You accompany this with a green salad or fresh baguette .

Enjoy!

TIPS

- You can replace ingredients according to your preferences.

- Be careful with the butter, can burn if you overcook it.

- If you use a salty cheese, make sure to put less salt in the white sauce.

- You can use the stove to prepare the white sauce, in that case, you will need  to stir continuously as it can burn easily, use low heat until it thickens.