Croque Monsieur

(24)
Servings:
4

Deliciously cheesy and protein-packed, this Croque Monsieur recipe is a meal that will have everyone asking for seconds. It's even more decadent topped with our Bechamel sauce.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for baking sheet

  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 cups milk

  • 1 cup Gruyere or Swiss cheese, grated, plus 8 ounces, thinly sliced

  • Coarse salt

  • Freshly ground white pepper

  • Freshly ground nutmeg

  • 8 slices brioche, cut ½-inch thick, toasted

  • 6 ounces baked ham, thinly sliced

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Butter a baking sheet; set aside.

  2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add flour, and cook until foaming, whisking constantly, for 3 minutes.

  3. In another medium saucepan, heat milk over medium heat. Slowly add milk to butter-flour mixture, whisking to prevent lumps from forming. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and cook 2 minutes more. Stir in 1/2 cup grated cheese, and season with salt, white pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne. Cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, and set aside to cool.

  4. Place 4 pieces of toast on a work surface and spread each piece with a 1/4 cup of sauce. Cover sauce with a slice of cheese, a slice of ham, and another slice of cheese. Top each sandwich with remaining 4 slices of toast. Spread each sandwich with 1/4 cup sauce and sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/2 cup grated cheese.

  5. Place sandwiches on prepared baking sheet, and bake until heated through, about 5 minutes. Preheat broiler; transfer baking sheet to broiler and broil until golden brown and bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately.

    Croque Monsieur

Variations

The other VCM, also for the TV show, calls for cayenne pepper (no quantity)

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