How to make a Croque Monsieur ham and cheese sandwich

Ham and cheese sandwiches are a staple for many of us, but the same old lunch can get boring after a while. If you have a litte extra time and some good quality ham, make a Croque Monsieur (Mister Crispy), the french version of a hot ham and cheese sandwich. This french bistro classic is the ultimate comfort food.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Good quality bread (sliced)
• Dijon Mustard
• Ham
• Gruyère cheese

1. Lightly toast the bread and spread a thin layer of dijon mustard on each slice. Any good sliced bread will do, depending on your preferences.

2. Build the sandwich by stacking ham and gruyère cheese between the bread. I prefer to use leftover ham that I've baked the night before instead of cold cut slices.

3. Place the sandwich on a baking sheet and sprinkle more gruyère cheese on top. For a really decadent version, whisk up a simple béchamel sauce (butter, flour, milk, nutmeg, salt, and pepper) and melt the gruyère into it. Pour this over the sandwich instead of sprinkling the cheese.

4. Put the sandwich in a 400 degree oven until all of the cheese is melted and is browned on top. Keep a close eye on it so the cheese doesn't burn.

5. Bon Appétit!

Tips & Warnings

• This sandwich is good for feeding a crowd, since you can bake a large number of them at one time.
• There are many variations on the Croque Monsieur. If you add a fried egg on top, it becomes a Croque Madame. The addition of a tomato makes it a Croque Provençal. Experiment with different ingredients to make this sandwich your own.
• This sandwich is not low fat, low carb, low calorie, or healthy by any means.
• Use good quality ingredients for the best results.

Resources

• Paris Bistro Cooking
• Simple French Cooking: The very best of a classic cuisine made easy, with 200 delicious and authentic dishes shown step by step in more than 800 photographs
• Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home
• My French Kitchen: A Book of 120 Treasured Recipes

[dingsbum]

on 3/16/2009 Twinsmom--I never measure anything exactly. Basically, to make a bechamel sauce for your croque monsieur, melt a few tablespoons of butter in a saucepan and then add a couple tablespoons of flour. Cook, whisking constantly for a few minutes. Add a couple of cups of milk and bring to a boil (keep whisking). Keep it moving until the mixture forms a gravy-like consistency. Lower heat, add salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste. Add some cheese and stir until melted through. Spoon over sandwiches.

[Twinsmom4]

on 3/16/2009 Yummy!! As a ham sandwich addict, I really need to try this one! Do you have a more detailed recipe for the bechamel sauce that you mentioned? Thanks! :)

[FrazzledNanny]

on 2/28/2009 Sounds great. Thanks for the article. 5*