CROQUE-MONSIEUR
While French restaurant and country cooking have been thoroughly examined by American home cooks, somewhere between the two styles lies a branch of cuisine that has been almost entirely missed: France's bar and cafe food. This is the realm of snacks like tartines and rillettes, salads and savory tarts, and one of most delicious of all: the croque-monsieur (literally translated as "crunch sir.") Good croque-monsieurs have a few things in common: a single layer of French ham and Gruyere pressed between two thin slices of bread. Some, like this one, are filled and topped with béchamel, which makes the whole thing creamier and better. The bread is brushed with butter, and the sandwich is cooked on a griddle or toasted under a broiler so that the cheese almost liquefies and the bits of ham and cheese hanging out the side fall limp and caramelize. It should be rich, substantial and salty, so you will reach for a glass of wine or beer between bites.
Provided by Amanda Hesser
Categories dinner, lunch, quick, sandwiches, main course
Time 20m
Yield 2 sandwiches
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat a two-sided electric griddle on medium-high to high for about 20 minutes, or preheat the oven to 300 degrees and preheat a cast-iron skillet on top of the stove for about 5 minutes. Prepare a bechamel sauce: in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. When bubbles have subsided, add flour and whisk vigorously for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Bring to a boil, and cook until thick. Remove from heat, and season to taste with salt and nutmeg.
- Spread two slices of bread generously with sauce. Lay two slices of ham on top of each, and top each with a slice of cheese; ham and cheese should slightly overlap edges of bread. Top each with a slice of bread.
- In a small saucepan, melt remaining the 4 tablespoons butter. Brush the sandwiches on both sides with butter, making sure that the edges are well covered. If you're using a griddle, place cheese side down, close the griddle and cook until the bread is toasted dark and cheese is leaking out and bubbling. If you're using a skillet, place sandwiches cheese side down and cook on stove top until well browned, then turn and brown again. Transfer skillet to oven, and bake until heated through and cheese is bubbling. Serve hot.
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Shahzad Blouch
[email protected]This was a great recipe! I made it for my friends and they loved it. The sandwich was cheesy and gooey, and the bread was perfectly toasted.
Esther Eduok
[email protected]I was skeptical about this recipe, but I was pleasantly surprised. The sandwich was delicious and I will definitely be making it again.
Shafauet Ullah
[email protected]This recipe was a hit! My kids loved the sandwich and they asked me to make it again next week.
Jevo dhani
[email protected]I tried this recipe and it was delicious! The sandwich was easy to make and the ingredients were affordable.
Peggy
[email protected]This was a great recipe! I made it for my family and they loved it. The sandwich was cheesy and gooey, and the bread was perfectly toasted.
Hussain Zubair
[email protected]I was skeptical about this recipe, but I was pleasantly surprised. The sandwich was delicious and I will definitely be making it again.
DyenPapu Papu
[email protected]This recipe was a hit! My kids loved the sandwich and they asked me to make it again next week.
Ameer Mahameed
[email protected]I tried this recipe and it was delicious! The sandwich was easy to make and the ingredients were affordable.
Arson bee
[email protected]This was a great recipe! I made it for my friends and they loved it. The sandwich was cheesy and gooey, and the bread was perfectly toasted.
Silas Yakes
[email protected]I was skeptical about this recipe, but I was pleasantly surprised. The sandwich was delicious and I will definitely be making it again.
Muhammad Anjum
[email protected]This recipe was a hit! My kids loved the sandwich and they asked me to make it again next week.
Jarmin Powell
[email protected]I tried this recipe and it was delicious! The sandwich was easy to make and the ingredients were affordable. I will definitely be making this again.
Kevin Pla7z
[email protected]This was a great recipe! I made it for my family and they loved it. The sandwich was cheesy and gooey, and the bread was perfectly toasted. I will definitely be making this again.