Ham and Swiss Dutch Baby Pancake (Sized for One)

 

 

If you are looking for a quick and simple supper for one, this Ham and Swiss Dutch Baby Pancake fits the bill perfectly. Its the perfect size for anyone who is wanting to cook something without any waste. It goes together very quickly using simple ingredients and can be on the table in less than half an hour!

 

I was wanting something quick and easy for my supper.  I didn't want anything that was going to be a lot of trouble and I didn't want a lot of leftovers. I also hadn't been shopping yet so was reduced to using just what I had in the house. I had come across this recipe a few weeks ago and saved it in a folder on my Pinterest. A simple Dutch Baby Pancake, using a few simple ingredients and perfectly sized for one.

A Dutch Baby Pancake, sometimes called a German Pancake, Bismarck, Hooligan or Hootenanny is a dish quite similar to a Yorkshire pudding, or Batter Pudding as they are also called. Made with eggs, milk and flour they can be either savoury or sweet. This version I am sharing with you today is definitely savoury and is flavoured lightly with mustard and generously filled with cheese and ham. They make great breakfasts, nice lunches and light suppers.

On this occasion I enjoyed it for my supper. Such a simple dish with crisp puffy edges and an almost custardy middle it went down a real treat. I used deli ham and some grated Emmenthaler cheese  I had in the refrigerator  which needed using up. It was an excellent choice. The ham was rich and salty. Emmenthaler cheese is a type of Swiss cheese that has a lovely creamy nutty, almost sweet flavour. It works really well with the saltiness of the ham and the richness of the egg.

I actually ended up making it twice. The first time my dish was not quite large enough and I ended up with a thick pancake, which, while still quite tasty, was not quite what I was looking for.  I repeated the process a second time and this time I used a larger enamel baking dish and it came out perfectly. The original recipe poster recommends a cast iron skillet and I can see where that would work best of all.

As a breakfast you might want to serve this with some syrup for drizzling. Trust me, it tastes delicious that way. For supper you might want it with a salad on the side. It is fabulous either way and was the perfect supper.  I found it quite filling actually and would make it again!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

TO MAKE A

💛 HAM AND SWISS DUTCH BABY PANCAKE💛 

With the exception of maybe the cheese, you probably have everything you need to make this delicious breakfast in the house right now! You will need a 6 1/2-inch oven-proof skillet or baking dish.

• 1/2 TBS of butter
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup (60ml) whole milk
• 1/2 tsp of stone ground mustard
• 1/8 tsp of kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp grated nutmeg
• 1/4 cup (30g) plain all-purpose flour
• 1 oz (28g) finely chopped deli ham (for me that was 2 slices
• 1 oz (28g) grated Gruyere cheese (about 1/4 cup)

💛 INGREDIENTS NOTES💛 

Butter, salted

I used salted butter. This helps to keep the pancake from sticking and adds a nice nutty golden color to the base and sides of the pancake.

Egg

This helps to bind the batter and creates a nice fluffy texture.

Milk

I use whole milk as that is all I keep in the house. You can use any cows milk and I have it on good authority that almond milk also works well.

Mustard

This adds a bold and tangy flavour that works very well with the ham and the cheese.

Ham

I used deli ham, about 2 slices of the brand that I have in the house, but they are small thin slices. You can also use leftover chopped cooked ham, or even chopped ham steaks.

Cheese

Gruyere or Emmenthaler cheese is lovely with a sweet and nutty flavor that works very well with the ham. You can really use any type of cheese that you enjoy and that has a great melting property and flavor.

💛 HOW TO MAKE A HAM AND SWISS DUTCH BABY PANCAKE💛 

This is really very simple and quick to make. Just make sure you use the right sized pan to make it in or your pancake will be too thick.

1. Preheat your oven to 400*F/200*C/gas mark 6. Place the butter into an oven-proof skillet or baking dish that is 6 1/2 inches in diameter. Pop it into the oven to melt the butter. (Don't let the butter burn. I put it into the oven only after I have everything else mixed and ready to go. Once the butter is melted and foaming I add the batter.)
2. Whisk the egg, milk, mustard, salt and nutmeg together in a small bowl until evenly mixed together. (I use a small wire whisk for this. You can also use an electric hand whisk.)
3. Slowly whisk in the flour until it is thoroughly amalgamated and smooth. Stir in the ham and the cheese. (Again use the whisk for the flour. I stir the ham and cheese in with a fork.)
4. Take the dish out of the oven (using a pot holder) and swirl the butter to grease the bottom and sides.
5. Pour the batter into the baking dish and return to the oven.
6. Bake for about 20 minutes until the Dutch Baby is puffed in the center and golden brown around the edges. (It will rise in the middle and then fall when you take it out of the oven.)
7. Remove from the oven and use a spatula to transfer the Dutch Baby to a cooling rack or your serving plate.
8. Leave to cool slightly before serving. Delicious!

*I garnished mine with some chopped parsley, but you could also garnish with some chopped spring onions or leave out a garnish altogether.

*I also roasted some little heart shaped toasts in the oven at the same time as I was baking the Dutch Baby.

💛 HINTS AND TIPS FOR SUCCESS💛 

Do use the correct size of pan

If you use a larger pan, your pancake will be very thin and you run the risk of it burning. Too small a pan and you end up with a thick rubbery pancake.

Preheat your pan before you pour in the batter

Pouring the batter into a hot pan helps the pancake to start rising as soon as it hits the pan and sears the bottom, so there is less likelihood of it sticking.

Do use the required amount of butter for oiling the pan

This helps to ensure that the pancake does not stick.

Whisk your batter well

Whisk your batter well with an electric mixer or a wire whisk so that no lumps remain.

Grate your own cheese

Those pre-grated cheeses often have things added to them like cellulose (wood fiber) to help to make them flow easier. it is much better to grate your own cheese.

Chop your ham up into tiny pieces

This gives you a much nicer finish and makes a small amount of ham go further.

💛 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS💛 

DO I NEED TO USE DELI HAM?

 Not at all. Feel free to use leftover baked ham, ham steak or even flakes of ham that come in a can. You could even use crumbled crisp bacon.

MUST I USE SWISS CHEESE?

Feel free to use any type of cheese you like and that you feel would go nicely with ham.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE A DAIRY FREE MILK?

This will work with other milks such as almond. You can also use a lower fat milk if you wish.

WILL THIS WORK WITH A GLUTEN FREE FLOUR?

Yes, I would use a one for one gluten free flour.

MUST I USE A STONE GROUND MUSTARD?

Feel free to use any type of quality mustard. Today I used Dijon.

DO I NEED TO USE A 6 1/2 INCH PAN?

It is best that you use a pan at least this size so that the batter can spread out properly. Any smaller and you run the risk of having a heavy pancake that doesn't rise properly.

 

💛 A FEW MORE RECIPES SIZED JUST FOR ONE 💛 

As a person who lives on her own, it can be a challenge to make meals that are just sized for me without having any waste. Here are a few other recipes which I make that I enjoy that are perfectly sized for one!

CHEESY TUNA CASSEROLE FOR ONE - This recipe is a delicious tuna casserole that is perfectly sized just for one person. You will find it is very generous, and if you added several sides, you might even be able to stretch it to feed two, but it is more than adequate for one. Beautiful chunks of Albacore tuna, folded into a rich and creamy cheesy sauce along with Ditalini pasta and frozen peas for the basis of this casserole. The sauce boasts not one, but two different cheeses and the perfect combination of herbs and seasonings.   A buttery cracker crumb topping adorns the top.  Crisp, buttery and very moreish.

SEVEN LAYER SALAD FOR ONE -  This is a reduced size recipe for a beautiful salad composed of seven different layers of tasty salad ingredients, topped with a creamy sour cream and mayonnaise dressing.  Kind of like the icing on the cake, and on top of that cheese and bacon. The full-sized recipe is a very popular salad to take to pot-lucks and family get-togethers. This smaller sized one fits perfectly in a mason jar and lacks none of the deliciousness of the original full sized salad. Perfect for a packed lunch as well!

 

 

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Yield: Serves one

Author: Marie Rayner

Ham and Swiss Dutch Baby Pancake

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 25 Min

A simple and delicious breakfast for one. Baked in a small dish, its ready in 30 minutes and is loaded with flavour.

Ingredients

• 1/2 TBS of butter
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup (60ml) whole milk
• 1/2 tsp of stone ground mustard
• 1/8 tsp of kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp grated nutmeg
• 1/4 cup (30g) plain all-purpose flour
• 1 oz (28g) finely chopped deli ham (for me that was 2 slices
• 1 oz (28g) grated Gruyere cheese (about 1/4 cup)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400*F/200*C/gas mark 6. Place the butter into an oven-proof skillet or baking dish that is 6 1/2 inches in diameter. Pop it into the oven to melt the butter.
2. Whisk the egg, milk, mustard, salt and nutmeg together in a small bowl until evenly mixed together.
3. Slowly whisk in the flour until it is thoroughly amalgamated and smooth. Stir in the ham and the cheese.
4. Take the dish out of the oven (using a pot holder) and swirl the butter to grease the bottom and sides.
5. Pour the batter into the baking dish and return to the oven.
6. Bake for about 20 minutes until the Dutch Baby is puffed in the center and golden brown around the edges.
7. Remove from the oven and use a spatula to transfer the Dutch Baby to a cooling rack or your serving plate.
8. Leave to cool slightly before serving. Delicious!

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