Indulge in a symphony of flavors with Rachael Ray's iconic Croque Monsieur, a delectable sandwich that harmoniously blends rich, melted cheese, savory ham, and a tangy béchamel sauce. This French classic is elevated with layers of buttered, golden-brown bread, resulting in a crispy exterior and a soft, cheesy interior that will tantalize your taste buds.
Dive into a culinary journey as we explore variations of this timeless dish, including the Croque Madame, a sophisticated rendition topped with a perfectly fried egg, and the Croque Florentine, a vegetarian delight featuring tender spinach and a creamy Mornay sauce. Discover the secrets to crafting the perfect béchamel, ensuring a smooth, velvety texture that complements the other ingredients.
For those seeking a gluten-free option, we present a delightful Almond Flour Croque Monsieur, a wholesome alternative that maintains the essence of this beloved sandwich. And for a taste of tradition, try the classic French Ham and Cheese Sandwich, a simple yet satisfying combination of flavors.
CROQUE MONSIEURS A LA RACHELLE MY TAKE ON FRENCH GRILLED CHEESE AND HAM SAMMYS
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Line up 8 slices of bread on a work surface.
- Heat a small saucepot over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and melt. Add flour to the butter and whisk together. Cook flour and butter together for 1 to 2 minutes, then whisk in half-and-half or milk. Bring sauce to a bubble and thicken another 1 or 2 minutes. Season sauce with salt, then whisk in prepared Dijon mustard.
- Heat a large nonstick griddle or skillet over medium heat.
- Spread each slice of bread with Dijon bechamel sauce and build 4 sandwiches with 2 or 3 slices of ham and 2 slices of cheese per sandwich. The Dijon bechamel sauce will help hold the meat and cheese in place. Make slices of ham and cheese rest flat; do not pile the meat or cheese. Butter the tops of the 4 sandwiches and set onto griddle or grill, buttered side down. Butter opposite side of each sandwich while the first side is grilling. Toast sandwiches 4 minutes on each side, turn with thin spatula. Serve with cornichons, pickled onions and extra Dijon mustard to pass at table.
CROQUE MADAME
(A Monsieur, made better!)
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Time 20m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Place a small sauce pot over medium low heat and melt 2 tablespoons butter in it. Whisk in a rounded tablespoon of flour and cook 1 minute or so. Whisk in milk and bring to a bubble then drop heat to low. Season the sauce with salt, pepper, nutmeg and Dijon. When sauce coats back of a spoon, turn off heat.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in each of 2 medium nonstick skillets, both over medium low heat. When butter melts add 2 large eggs to the first skillet, keeping the whites separate from each other. To the second skillet add 2 slices bread and toast lightly on first side then turn the bread. Top turned bread liberally with sauce and 2 slices of the ham and the Swiss cheese on each slice of bread. Use a spatula to transfer the eggs to the tops of the open faced sandwiches. Cover the pan with foil and turn off heat. Let pan stand 5 minutes to melt cheese and set sauce and eggs.
- Top sandwiches with chopped herb or herbs of choice and serve. Spoon any leftover sauce over top of the eggs before garnishing.
CROQUE MONSIEUR STYLE MONTE CRISTO CROUTONS WITH FRISEE SALAD AND SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat a griddle pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat.
- Whisk together the marmalade, shallot, 1 tablespoon of the Dijon mustard and vinegar, in a small bowl. Add the extra-virgin olive oil in a slow stream, while whisking, and then season the dressing with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
- Combine the romaine with the frisee on large platter or in a shallow bowl.
- Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a sauce pot over medium heat, then whisk in the flour, and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in 1 1/3 cups of the milk and cook until the mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Season the sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg, to taste. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of mustard and turn off the heat. Spread 4 slices of bread with the white sauce and top each with a slice of cheese, 2 slices folded ham, another slice of cheese. Spread the remaining bread with sauce and cover the sandwiches. Trim the crusts, if you prefer, then quarter the sandwiches.
- Beat the eggs with the remaining milk in a shallow bowl and dip the sandwiches in the batter as you add them to the griddle. Wipe the griddle with butter nested in a paper towel before you start adding the sandwiches. Griddle the sandwiches until deep golden, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
- Toss the salad with the dressing and divide it among 4 plates. Arrange 4 Croque Monsieur Monte Cristo croutons on top of each salad and serve.
FRENCH ONION CROQUE MADAME
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 26
Steps:
- For the onions: Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and add the butter. Heat until the butter starts to foam, then add the onions and season with salt and pepper. Add thyme and bay leaf, and cook to caramelize the onions, about 30 minutes.
- Deglaze the onions with the sherry and then add the stock. Reduce until just a few spoonfuls of stock remain, then keep warm.
- For the sauce: In saucepot, warm the milk. In another pan, melt the butter over medium to medium-high heat and whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the warm milk, bring to a bubble, and then season with salt, pepper and some nutmeg. Cook to thicken the sauce until it coats the back of a spoon, then remove from the heat and stir in the mustard.
- For the salad: In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard and honey, and then drizzle in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add the endive, frisee and radicchio and toss to coat.
- For the sandwiches: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and top each with some caramelized onions, 2 slices ham, some bechamel and cheese. Bake the sandwiches until brown and bubbly, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan set over medium heat, add some butter and cook the eggs sunny-side up or over easy. Top the sandwiches with an egg and serve with some salad.
BAKED CROQUE MONSIEUR
Croque Monsieur, a Continental cross between French toast and grilled ham-and cheese, feeds a crowd when you bake it casserole style, in the oven. This recipe comes from the " Bakers' Catalogue" - King Arthur Flour.
Provided by Chef Glaucia
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h18m
Yield 10 , 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Butter a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Remove the crust from the bread, if you wish. Place them into the greased baking dish, cutting slices in half, as necessary, to completely cover the bottom of the pan.
- Top with half of the cheese, the ham, sliced onion, and the remaining cheese; and the remaining bread.
- Press the sandwiches together.
- Beat the eggs, milk and seasoning together. Pour slowly over the bread.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
- About 1 hour before serving, preheat the oven to 400ºF. Mix the breadcrumbs with the melted butter and grated cheese. Sprinkle over the sandwiches.
- Bake for 42 to 48 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the eggs set.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
RACHAEL RAY'S CROQUE MONSIEUR
Make and share this Rachael Ray's Croque Monsieur recipe from Food.com.
Provided by ratherbeswimmin
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 40m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat a large pan or griddle over med-low to medium heat.
- Heat a small saucepan over medium heat; add in 2 tablespoons butter and melt.
- Whisk flour into butter and cook 1 minute; then whisk in the half-and-half.
- Add in dijon mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper; cook for 2 minutes to thicken; remove from heat.
- Spread bread slices with the sauce and make sandwiches, using a couple of folded slices of ham per sandwich.
- Spread the remaining 2 tablespoons butter lightly across the outside faces of each sandwich.
- Spread the shredded cheese across a plate and gently press each side of the sandwiches into the cheese, then place on the hot pan or griddle.
- The cheese will brown and form a crisp coating as the sandwich cooks and heats through.
- cook for 3 minutes on each side, or until evenly golden.
THE PERFECT CROQUE MONSIEUR
Master the croque monsieur with soft sourdough, gruyère, smoked ham and creamy mustard mayo. You'll relish every mouthful of this brunch classic.
Provided by Emma Freud
Categories Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Snack, Treat
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- First, make a perfect béchamel sauce. Put the milk, cream, garlic, bay leaves and onion in a small pan over a medium heat and stir together. Heat until nearly boiling, then turn the heat off and leave for 10 mins to infuse. Pass the liquid through a sieve and discard the bay and onion.
- Melt the butter with the flour in another pan and cook over a gentle heat until it smells biscuity. Gradually whisk in the warm milk and bring to a gentle boil, stirring regularly, then add the Dijon mustard, a little grating of fresh nutmeg and some seasoning. It should be a lovely thick creamy sauce with a deep flavour.
- Brush the slices of bread with melted butter. Place them on a baking tray and toast one side under a grill, buttered-side up, until golden. Take them out and heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.
- Turn the bread over and spread each slice with a thin layer of Dijon, followed by a layer of the béchamel. Cover the sauce with grated gruyère, and then a slice of ham. Form the slices into two sandwiches, spread a thin layer of the sauce over the top slice and sprinkle more gruyère on top. Put the sandwiches in the oven and bake for 10-15 mins or until golden. Mix the mustard and mayo together and serve alongside.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 876 calories, Fat 62 grams fat, SaturatedFat 31 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 46 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 6 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 31 grams protein, Sodium 3.7 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use a good quality bread that is sturdy enough to hold up to the fillings and cooking process.
- Spread the butter on the bread evenly so that it toasts evenly.
- Use a good quality cheese that melts well.
- Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking the sandwiches. This will prevent them from cooking evenly.
- Cook the sandwiches over medium heat so that the bread has time to toast and the cheese has time to melt.
- Serve the sandwiches immediately with your favorite sides.
Conclusion:
Rachel Ray's Croque Monsieur is a delicious and easy-to-make sandwich that is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. With its simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, this recipe is sure to become a favorite. So next time you're looking for a satisfying and flavorful sandwich, give Rachel Ray's Croque Monsieur a try.
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