Potato, Leek, and Ham Gratin

10 servings

8 large peeled Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 2 3/4 pounds)
Cooking spray
4 cups thinly sliced leek (about 4 large)
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Dash of ground nutmeg
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups 1% low-fat milk
3 cups diced 33%-less-sodium ham (about 3/4 pound)
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Gruyère cheese

Preheat oven to 375°.

Place potatoes in a Dutch oven, and cover with water. Bring to a boil; remove from heat. Drain; set aside.

Heat pan over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add leek and oil, stirring to coat leek. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until the leek is tender. Remove from pan; set aside.
Add broth, mustard, pepper, and nutmeg to pan, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Place flour in a medium bowl; gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk to form a slurry. Add slurry to broth mixture, stirring to combine; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 3 minutes or until mixture thickens, stirring constantly.

Pour 1 cup milk mixture into bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray; arrange 2 1/3 cups potatoes over milk mixture. Top potatoes with 1 1/2 cups ham and 1 cup leek; sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese. Repeat layers once, ending with cheese, and top with remaining potatoes. Pour the remaining milk mixture over potatoes; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

CALORIES 320(31% from fat); FAT 11.5g (sat 5.1g,mono 2g,poly 0.7g); PROTEIN 22.8g; CHOLESTEROL 60mg; CALCIUM 266mg; SODIUM 940mg; FIBER 3.3g; IRON 2.1mg; CARBOHYDRATE 35.2g

Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2004