What are the "shells" in the recipe?

"Skjæl" are scallop shells used as small individual moulds. The recipe makes 12 shells, but an ordinary gratin dish can be used instead.

Is this macaroni and cheese?

Yes, it is an early Norwegian relative – cooked macaroni with butter and grated cheese, here elevated to party food with ham and Parmesan.

Macaroni and Ham Gratin

Name: Macaroni and Ham Gratin
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Norwegian
Ingredients: 250 g macaroni (broken into pieces); 125 g butter; 125 g ham (cut into fine strips); 125 g Parmesan or other strong cheese (grated); water (for cooking); salt; rusk crumbs (crushed, for sprinkling)

Cooked macaroni tossed with butter, shredded ham and grated Parmesan, distributed in greased scallop shells, topped with cheese, rusk crumbs and melted butter and gratinated briefly in a hot oven.

Source: Henriette Schønberg Erken & Caroline Steen, Kogebog for skole og hjem, 1900-utg. s. 236 (falt i det fri)

Be the first to rate

About the dish

En tidlig norsk variant av makaroni og ost, hevet til selskapsmat med skinke og parmesan og servert i kamskjell (skjæl) – datidens fasjonable porsjonsservise. Makaroni var eksklusiv importvare rundt 1900.

How to make it

1
Cook the macaroni
Break the macaroni into pieces and cook it in plenty of boiling, salted water until tender. Drain off the water.
2
Combine
Return the macaroni to the heat with the butter, the shredded ham and the grated cheese. Bring to a boil.
3
Fill the moulds
Put the mixture into a greased mould or into greased scallop shells (12 of them). Sprinkle over grated cheese, then crushed rusk crumbs or bread, and pour over a little melted butter.
4
Gratinate
Place the shells in a hot oven for 5 minutes. Serve on a dish with a folded napkin, garnished with parsley.

Changes from the original

«Skjæl» er kamskjell brukt som porsjonsformer; en vanlig gratinform kan erstatte dem. «Hed ovn» er en godt varm ovn, i praksis rundt 225 °C (435 °F), siden retten bare skal gratineres kort. Serietten under fatet er ren borddekking.

In stores now

Clean, minimally processed groceries matched to the ingredients — approximate prices.

Product data and prices via Kassalapp. Prices are updated daily and may vary.

Time machine – what changed?

Pick two editions and see what Henriette Schønberg Erken added, removed or changed between them.

From1900 Modernised

To1900 Modernised

Pick two different editions to see a comparison.

Community interpretations

Be the first to share your own version.

See interpretations →

Frequently asked questions

What are the "shells" in the recipe?: "Skjæl" are scallop shells used as small individual moulds. The recipe makes 12 shells, but an ordinary gratin dish can be used instead.
Is this macaroni and cheese?: Yes, it is an early Norwegian relative – cooked macaroni with butter and grated cheese, here elevated to party food with ham and Parmesan.

Related recipes

More dishes in the same category from the archive

Kommentarer

Ingen kommentarer ennå. Bli den første til å dele!