This Golden Milanese Bake is the Ultimate Italian Way to Save Your Potatoes

When you are completely over the same old uninspired mashes and standard fries, this northern Italian favorite is the fastest way to bring your side dishes back to life.

There is no tedious layering or complex prep involved — you just slice up your spuds, mix them directly with your favorite deli meats, and smother everything in a heavy handful of sharp cheese before roasting. The magic happens in the oven, where the rich fats from the meats fuse with the potatoes, creating a deeply savory skillet with a shatteringly crisp, golden crust on top.

Ingredients: 300 g of potatoes, 300 g of Montasio hard cheese, half an onion, 100–150 g of smoked ham, a bunch of parsley, salt.

Peel the potatoes and cut them into thin strips. Soak them in cold water for 20 minutes. Drain the water and pat them dry.

Peel the onion and dice it finely. Brown the potatoes in a hot skillet with olive oil. Season with salt, add the onion, stir, and fry for a couple of minutes.

Add the chopped parsley and stir. Cook until the potatoes are done. Grate the cheese using a coarse grater; the amount of cheese should be equal to the amount of potatoes. Cut the ham or bacon into cubes or strips.

Sprinkle half of the cheese over the bottom of the hot skillet. Layer the potatoes on top, followed by the meat, and then the remaining half of the cheese. Reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid. Cook for another five minutes, until the bottom layer of cheese develops a golden crust.

Flip the casserole onto a plate so it retains its shape.