CROQUE MONSIEUR | Crispy Oven-Baked Ham and Cheese

Gruyère cheese

🥗Healthier: Emmental cheese

💰Cheaper: Cheddar cheese

Emmental is lower in fat, while Cheddar is more widely available.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier, while margarine is often cheaper.

Begin by making the sauce in a small saucepan.

Add 1 cup of homogenized milk to the saucepan and bring it to temperature to scald the milk.

Once hot, remove the milk from the heat and set aside.

In another small saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of butter and melt it over medium heat.

Add 2 tablespoons of unbleached all-purpose flour to the melted butter and stir for about a minute.

Gradually add the hot milk to the butter and flour mixture while whisking to create a thick white sauce.

Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup of grated Gruyère cheese, whisking until melted and smooth.

Season the sauce with about 1/4 teaspoon of salt and freshly grated nutmeg. Set the sauce aside.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the rack in the middle position.

Toast 4 slices of brioche bread in a toaster for about 2 minutes until golden.

Place the toasted brioche slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Spread 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard on two pieces of brioche bread.

Layer 3-4 slices of thinly sliced ham on top of the mustard-covered bread.

Pour a tablespoon of the mornay sauce over the ham on each sandwich.

Sprinkle about 1 1/2 cups of grated Gruyère cheese on top of the ham.

Top with the remaining slices of brioche bread to form sandwiches.

Spread the mornay sauce generously over the top of each sandwich, covering the edges.

Sprinkle additional grated Gruyère cheese on top of the sauce-covered sandwiches.

Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, remove the baking sheet and turn the oven setting to broil.

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of the sandwiches and return them to the oven under the broiler.

Watch closely as they broil until the tops are golden and crunchy.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens