Sues Grilled Ham And Cheese Croque Monsieur Recipes

CROQUE MONSIEURS A LA RACHELLE MY TAKE ON FRENCH GRILLED CHEESE AND HAM SAMMYS

Steps:

• Line up 8 slices of bread on a work surface.
• Heat a small saucepot over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and melt. Add flour to the butter and whisk together. Cook flour and butter together for 1 to 2 minutes, then whisk in half-and-half or milk. Bring sauce to a bubble and thicken another 1 or 2 minutes. Season sauce with salt, then whisk in prepared Dijon mustard.
• Heat a large nonstick griddle or skillet over medium heat.
• Spread each slice of bread with Dijon bechamel sauce and build 4 sandwiches with 2 or 3 slices of ham and 2 slices of cheese per sandwich. The Dijon bechamel sauce will help hold the meat and cheese in place. Make slices of ham and cheese rest flat; do not pile the meat or cheese. Butter the tops of the 4 sandwiches and set onto griddle or grill, buttered side down. Butter opposite side of each sandwich while the first side is grilling. Toast sandwiches 4 minutes on each side, turn with thin spatula. Serve with cornichons, pickled onions and extra Dijon mustard to pass at table.

VEGETARIAN CROQUE MONSIEUR (GOURMET GRILLED CHEESE W/ TOFU HAM)

Steps:

• Lightly cook the ham (whether it's real or not) in a frying pan on low heat so the edges are nice and crispy and it can help melt the cheeses from the inside. Note that tofu "ham" has natural moisture so you don't have to use cooking spray like you would with real ham. It tastes good a little smoky but try not to burn it.
• Using a pastry or BBQ brush, brush one side of each slice with the melted butter. 1 tbsp should do it.
• Spread the mustard on the other sides of the bread: 2 tbsp was just a guess; spread the mustard as thin or thick as you'd like.
• Layer the ham and cheese on the bread however you'd like. Sometimes I like to just alternate the cheeses and put the ham in the center, other times I like to arrange it differently.
• Cook it on medium-low heat in the frying pan so all the cheeses melt but not too hot or else the bread will burn. Flip it every 30 seconds or so and use a little extra butter in the pan if you have to.
• Cook it until one side is totally done and the other side still hasn't completely browned yet.
• On the un-browned side, pour on the shredded cheese. Cook it face down on the frying pan on low heat until singed.
• Cut in half and serve with pomme frites or a nice endive salad and enjoy.

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.

GRILLED HAM AND BLUE CHEESE SANDWICH - CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• Toast bread slice, and butter if desired.
• Top with ham slices and cheese.
• Grill until cheese has melted.

BAKED CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• Butter a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Remove the crust from the bread, if you wish. Place them into the greased baking dish, cutting slices in half, as necessary, to completely cover the bottom of the pan.
• Top with half of the cheese, the ham, sliced onion, and the remaining cheese; and the remaining bread.
• Press the sandwiches together.
• Beat the eggs, milk and seasoning together. Pour slowly over the bread.
• Cover and place in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
• About 1 hour before serving, preheat the oven to 400ºF. Mix the breadcrumbs with the melted butter and grated cheese. Sprinkle over the sandwiches.
• Bake for 42 to 48 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the eggs set.
• Remove from the oven and allow to rest 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

A LIGHTER CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• Cut a slit in each bread slice to form a pocket. Spread 1 teaspoon honey mustard into each bread pocket. Divide ham and cheese evenly among bread pockets.
• Combine milk and egg whites in a shallow bowl, stirring with a whisk. Dip sandwiches, 1 at a time, in milk mixture, turning to coat.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add 2 sandwiches and cook 3 minutes on each side or until sandwiches are golden brown. Repeat the procedure with the remaining sandwiches.