Not only do Italians have effortless and delicious pasta dishes, but we have some here in Germany, too! German Fried Ham Pasta, Schinkennudeln, is straightforward and quick to make. With just a few affordable ingredients, you can create a filling dish that will make the whole family happy.
Table of Contents
Recipe
German Fried Ham Pasta
Ingredients
- 250 g pasta fussilli
- 1 onion
- 100 g cooked ham
- 100 g raw, smoked ham for example Schwarzwälder Schinken or Katenschincken
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 eggs
- 50 ml milk or cream
- salt
- pepper
- nutmeg
Instructions
- Start with cooking the pasta. Take a large pot, fill it with water and bring the water to a boil. Add salt and pasta and cook it until eatable:)
- In the meantime, peel and chop the onion. Cut the ham slices into smaller cubes.
- Melt butter in a large pan. Add onion and fry until transluscent.
- Add ham cubes and fry for another 4-5 minutes.
- Mix eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Set aside.
- When the pasta is drained, add it to the pan and fry for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Turn the heat to low. Add the egg mixture to the pan and stir, ensuring all the noodles are covered. Turn the heat to medium-high and fry until the egg is done (that's the Oma way, and that's how we like it). If you like the dish creamier, fry the mixture for a shorter time.
- Serve immediately.
- Guten Apetit!
When I don’t have time or energy to cook, I go for German Fried Ham Pasta. The boys love pasta dishes, so it’s comforting and easy at the same time. This dish has been a favourite family dish for the past few decades, and it’s not going anywhere. The ingredients are cheap, and you can get them anywhere, but you will likely have them in your pantry and fridge already. To make it, you will only need tools in your kitchen: a pot, a knife, a chopping board and a pan. The dish is filling and makes everyone more than happy. Plus, you can always add your twist to it!
What pasta should you get for German Fried Ham Pasta?
Matthias’s Oma always used durum wheat and egg pasta to make any pasta dish. The best choice for this particular dish is Spiralen (alternative: Fusilli). If you don’t have access to German Egg Pasta or Fusilli, go for Penne.
What ham to use in German fried ham pasta?
I always choose two types of ham: cooked and smoked. For Schinkennudeln, I like ham slices, but you can also use cubes if you prefer. Smoked ham makes the dish more aromatic.
Use smoked bacon if you don’t have smoked ham, like Katenschinken or Schwarzwälder.
Egg-Mixture for German Fored Ham Pasta
Eggs mixed with salt, pepper, and nutmeg make the perfect sauce for this pasta. The mixture improves the dish’s consistency and gives it an exceptional taste.
To enhance the flavour of the German Fried Ham Pasta, it’s essential to use butter for frying. The butter adds a rich, savoury taste to the dish. Also, you’ll need to add onions. They bring a sweet and slightly tangy flavour that perfectly complements the ham and egg mixture.
Do I need to add cheese to my German Fried Pasta?
No!
In our family, we never added cheese to this particular dish. And that’s the vegetable I would love you to try. But if you feel something is missing, add a bit of grated Gouda or Emmentaller to the egg mixture. It’s all about personal preference!
If you feel something is missing, add a bit of grated Gouda or Emmentaller to the egg mixture.
The German Fried Ham Pasta is not as creamy as Italian Spaghetti Carbonara, but that’s good. You might fry the egg mixture for as long or as short as you like.
How to serve German Fried Ham Pasta?
German Fried Ham Pasta doesn’t need any extra side dishes. It should be served immediately as is. Just put the large pan in the middle of the table—so easy! You can use herbs like parsley or chives for extra flavour—they’re always suitable for the eye!
If you like eating veggies, prepare German Mixed Salad with it.
If you are feeling adventurous, eat it with apple sauce—savoury ham and apple sauce are surprisingly good friends.
Tools that might come in handy
Storage & Reheating
You can store fried ham pasta for up to 3 days in the fridge.
I wouldn’t;)
Reheat past gently with a little bit of milk on the non-stick pan.
If you want easy pasta dishes, check out my favourite and traditional spaghetti alla carbonara or spaghetti al ragout.
