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Recipes
May 2014

Croque-Monsieur

By Rita Sodi and Jody WilliamsPhotography by Peden + Munk

3.7

(277)

Image may contain Burger Food Plant Pasta and Lasagna
Peden + Munk

Grilled ham and cheese: nothing to scoff at. Baked ham and cheese with velvety béchamel oozing out all over the place: mind-altering.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients

béchamel

¼

cup (½ stick) unsalted butter

¼

cup all-purpose flour

1½

cups whole milk

2

tablespoons whole grain mustard

½

teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg or ¼ ground nutmeg

Kosher salt

assembly

8

slices ½”-thick country-style bread

6

oz. ham, preferably Paris ham (about 8 slices)

3

oz. Gruyère, grated (about 1½ cups)

1

teaspoon herbes de Provence

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. béchamel

    Step 1

    Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until foamy. Add flour and cook, stirring, until mixture is pale and foamy, about 3 minutes. Gradually add milk, stirring until mixture is smooth. Cook, stirring, until sauce is thick and somewhat elastic, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in mustard and nutmeg; season with salt.

    Step 2

    DO AHEAD: Béchamel can be made 1 day ahead. Let cool; press plastic wrap directly onto surface and chill.

  2. assembly

    Step 3

    Preheat oven to 425°. Spread bread slices with béchamel, dividing evenly and extending all the way to the edges. Place 4 slices of bread, béchamel side up, on a parchment-lined baking sheet; top with ham and half of cheese. Top with remaining slices of bread, béchamel side up, then top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with herbes de Provence. Bake until cheese is brown and bubbling, 10–15 minutes.

    Step 4

    DO AHEAD: Sandwiches can be made (but not baked) 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.

Nutrition Per Serving

Calories (kcal) 510 Fat (g) 24 Saturated Fat (g) 13 Cholesterol (mg) 85 Carbohydrates (g) 49 Dietary Fiber (g) 2 Total Sugars (g) 7 Protein (g) 22 Sodium (mg) 1200
Explore Bon AppétitSandwichFrenchEuropeanHamMeatGruyèreCheeseLunchDinner