Croque Monsieur

It is a dream of mine to take french cooking classes in Paris someday.  Maybe it will happen...maybe not.  But until then I will continue to satisfy my culinary curiosity with DVR'd reruns of Barefoot Contessa.

Croque Monsieur is basically just a french version of the grilled ham and cheese sandwich.  Except it is waaaaaaaayy more impressive and about 20 times yummier!  But it is NOT 20 times harder to make.  Here's how I did it:

Ingredients:  butter, flour, half and half, Gruyere cheese (if you can't find Gruyere, white cheddar or even sharp yellow cheddar would be good substitutes), Parmesan cheese, white bread, Dijon mustard and ham.

Grate some Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses.

Melt some butter in a sauce pan.

Add some flour.

And let that cook, stirring for a few minutes until it is golden.

Meanwhile, heat some half and half in the microwave for about 2 minutes or so (don't let it boil).

Then whisk it into the butter/flour mixture.

Cook it over medium heat, whisking constantly until it thickens into a sauce-like consistency.  Then add the Parmesan cheese and a little of the Gruyere cheese.

Whisk that for about a minute or so until the cheese melts into the sauce.  Then season with salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.

Give it one final whisk then remove it from the heat and set aside.

Cut the crusts off some white bread and place it in the oven on a sheet pan.

Let it toast for about 5 minutes or so until it's just browned.

Spread one side of each toast with Dijon mustard.

Then pile one side with ham.

And half of the remaining Gruyere cheese.

Top the sandwich with the other piece of toast.

And slather the top with the cheese sauce.

Then pile the remaining Gruyere cheese on top and bake for about 5 minutes to melt the cheese and heat it through.  Turn the broiler to high and broil for another 5 minutes until the cheese on top bubbles and starts to brown.

HALLELUJAH!  This is not your mother's grilled cheese!  That is unless your mother is French...

MMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.  MM mmm MM mm MMMMM!!

Link to the printable recipe:

Croque Monsieur

Source:  Barefoot Contessa