Croque Monsieur

Generally speaking, I'm not a sandwich person ... I love the contents but can do without the bread - how un-American of me! But there is a sandwich I would go out of my way for, and wouldn't you know, it's French. A Croque Monsieur, in my humble opinion, is the best sandwich on earth. Most Americans would probably look at this and say, "What's the big deal, it's a grilled ham and cheese sandwich?" but it's so much more.

A Croque Monsieur - the combination of Black Forest ham, Gruyère and Parmesan cheese, and mornay sauce carried on toast - is sublime, and most of the cheese is melted on the outside and browned under the broiler. With a green salad on the side and a chilled glass of Chablis ... life doesn't get much better.

Croque Monsieur

1½ tablespoons unsalted butter
1½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
1½ cups hot milk
1 bay leaf (optional)
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
12 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated - DIVIDED
12 slices sandwich bread
Dijon mustard
½ pound Black Forest ham, thinly sliced
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Mornay Sauce

Melt butter over low heat in a small saucepan and add the flour, stirring with a wooden spoon until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Slowly pour the hot milk into the flour mixture, whisking constantly. Add bay leaf, if using. Over medium heat, whisk until the sauce is thickened (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat. Add ½ cup grated Gruyère cheese, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir and set aside. 

Sandwiches

Preheat oven to 400℉.

Toast the bread: Place bread slices on baking sheets and bake for 4 minutes; turn each slice and bake for another 2-3 minutes.

Lightly spread half of the slices with mustard, add several slices of ham to each, and sprinkle with half of the remaining Gruyère cheese. Top with a slice of toasted bread. Liberally spread the mornay sauce (bay leaf removed) on top of each sandwich, sprinkly with the remaining Gruyère, and bake the sandwiches for 5 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and lightly browned.

Serve hot, with a green salad.

Comments

[Sally]

Oh how wonderful!!!!!

[Barbara Andolsek Paintings]

You are SO a woman after my own heart. I love sandwiches, but not the bread part, lol... however, this one IS, as Robert said, to die for! Who needs a Panini press.

[Robert]

OMG to die for !!! wish I could reach in the screen and take one !