Croque Monsieur Sandwiches With Pears Recipes

PETIT CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add chopped pears and cook, stirring, until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Sprinkle pears with sugar and continue cooking until golden brown and caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes more. Add vinegar and swirl pan until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and transfer pears to a plate; set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add pear slices, in batches if necessary, and cook until lightly browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Spread the remaining 2 tablespoons butter over one side of each slice of bread. Lay buttered-side down on work surface and spread opposite side generously with mustard. Slice bread in half diagonally. Top half of the diagonal slices with 1 slice of pear, 2 slices of ham, and 2 slices cheese; top with remaining diagonal slices.
• Heat a clean medium skillet over medium heat; working in batches, cook 5 to 6 sandwiches at a time, turning once, until cheese is melted and sandwiches are golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Cut each sandwich in half to make two dozen hors d'oeuvres, if desired. Garnish each sandwich with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon reserved chopped pear mixture; serve immediately.

QUICK CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in bottom third. Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat until hot, about 5 minutes. Melt butter in another saucepan over medium heat; add flour, whisk to combine, and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons thyme, then gradually whisk in milk. Simmer bechamel 2 minutes, whisking. Remove from heat, and add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Cut top crust off bread; slice loaf in half horizontally. Fill sandwich with mustard, ham, and half the Gruyere. Toast on a baking sheet until cheese is melted and top is golden brown.
• Remove from oven. Preheat broiler. Spread bechamel on top, and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Broil until golden brown and bubbling, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven; garnish with pepper and remaining thyme. Let sit 10 minutes before cutting.

CROQUE-MONSIEUR

Steps:

• Use 2 tablespoons of the butter to spread over one side of each slice of bread. On three of the slices, spread a layer of Dijon mustard over the butter, and top each with 4 slices of ham. On the other three, spread mayonnaise, and top each one with 2 slices of Swiss cheese. Press ham and cheese sides of sandwiches together.
• In a flat bottomed dish, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, and water until blended. Set aside.
• Heat remaining butter and vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Dip both sides of each sandwich in the egg mixture, and fry in the oil and butter until browned, flipping to brown on each side.

CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• To make the béchamel: melt butter in a saucepan; sprinkle in flour, whisking constantly. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper.
• To make the panini: preheat a panini press or George Foreman grill. Spread 1 teaspoon béchamel on each slice of bread and arrange the slices in two equal rows. On one row, sprinkle enough Gruyére to cover all the way to the edges. On the other, add the ham and top with a dollop of mustard and a twist of pepper. Put the slices with the ham and mustard on top of the slices with the cheese. Grill until lightly golden. Serve hot.

ROCKER BARBIE - CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• Spread all the bread slices, 1 side only, with the butter and mustard. Add the 2 slices of ham and 2 slices of cheese to each of 4 bread slices. Cover with remaining bread to make a traditional sandwich.
• In a large shallow bowl add the beaten eggs and the whole milk. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and combine well. Dip each sandwich into the egg mixture making sure you cover the whole sandwich, including the sides. Place on a large platter until ready to cook. Heat the remainder of the softened butter in a large skillet. When the butter has melted and the pan is very hot, add the sandwiches and cook turning once, until golden brown, about 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to serving plates and serve immediately.

CROQUE MONSIEUR PUFFS

Steps:

• Adjust rack to the middle of an oven and preheat to 400 degrees.
• Combine water, milk, butter, salt, and ham in a heavy, medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• All at once, add the flour and stir in quickly with a wooden spoon. Keep stirring-the mixture will come away form the sides of the pan and become thick and stiff. Keep stiring and turning over for about 1 minute (you want it to dry out a bit).
• Transfer the dough to an electric mixer, and turn mixer on medium-high speed. Add 1 egg and as soon as it is partially incorporated, increase mixer speed to high. Add the remaining eggs, one at a time when the previous egg is well incorporated. The mixture should be smooth. Mix in the cheese and chives.
• IF you have a strong arm, the dough can also be mixed by hand with a wooden spoon in a mixing bowl. Proceed as directed, and be sure to beat the dough until smooth before mxing in the cheese and chives. Let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with cooking spray. (Watch the puff bottomes closely to prevent over-browning if not using parchment.) By heaping teaspoonfuls, drop the mixture onto baking sheets in little balls, spaced apart. They shoud be the size of large marbles or jaw-breakers. (You can also pipe them out using a pastry bag.).
• Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden. Serve warm. You can bake these a few hours in advance and reheat in the oven as well!

CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• 1. Spread dressing on both pieces of bread.
• 2. Place two slices of cheese onto each side of bread.
• 3. Put ham in center of bread.
• 4. Close the sandwich.
• 5. Spread evenly 1/2 teaspoon of lightly salted butter onto each side of the bread.
• 6. Grill over moderate heat for approximately 3-4 minutes per side.

CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• Lightly butter 1 side of each bread slice. Place 1 cheese slice on buttered side of each of 4 bread slices. Top with ham slice and another cheese slice. Close sandwiches with remaining bread slices, buttered side in.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sandwiches in batches and cook until golden brown, adding more butter as necessary, about 2 minutes per side. Serve immediately.