Baked salsify with cheese sauce

Ingredients for 3 servings:

• 750 g salsify, fresh
• 30 g butter
• 200 g cooked ham
• 1 m.-large onion(s), finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove(s), squeezed
• 25 g flour
• 125 ml cream
• 125 ml broth (salsify broth)
• 1 egg yolk
• 75 g cheese, grated
• salt and pepper
• nutmeg

Instructions

Working time approx. 30 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 20 minutes; Total time approx. 50 minutes

It’s best to peel and trim the fresh salsify while wearing disposable gloves. Immediately place it in vinegar or lemon water, as otherwise it will quickly turn brown. Boil it in salted water for 25 minutes. Then drain it, reserving 125 ml and setting it aside. In the meantime, grease a baking dish with 5 g of butter. Place half of the cooked ham in it, then the cooked salsify and finish with the remaining ham. Sauté the chopped onion and crushed garlic in the remaining butter until light yellow. Briefly fry the flour in it. Whisk in the cream and salsify broth and reduce to a creamy sauce. Season with a little salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Take a little of the sauce, whisk it with the egg yolk, and stir it into the remaining, simmering sauce. Do not let it boil any longer, or the yolk will curdle! Finally, stir in grated cheese to the sauce and pour it over the salsify. Bake in a preheated oven at 225°C (top/bottom heat) for about 20 minutes. Serve with parsley potatoes.