Croque Monsieur/Croque Madame

Continuing on the french theme... here is a délicieux snack that they eat in France, a Croque Monsieur! (Crispy Mr.)


It is on one hand, pretty much a cheese and ham sandwich, but on the other hand, it is so much more!

You will need:
-1/2C Gruyère cheese grated - a swiss cheese, you can find at the Cheese Mongers (now in the arts centre Montreal St side) Mediterranean food warehouse, Mercato on Fitzgerald St etc.
-1/8C Parmasen cheese, grated
-A few slices of Ham, preferably a French one, I made mine with a shaved Bordeaux ham
-4 pieces of thick white toast, sliced and toasted
-Butter
-2T Flour
-3/4C Milk
-Salt, peper and nutmeg to taste.
You can use Dijon mustard too, but I didn't cause I can't stand the stuff.

Heat the oven to 200c
Make the roux sauce: Melt butter in a small saucepan on a low heat, add the flour and cook, stirring. Slowly whisk in the milk, cooking 'til thick. Remove from heat. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste. Add Parmesan and 1/8C cup Gruyère. Mix in until melted.

Butter the toast and lay them out on a baking tray. (I used one with sides!)

Add the ham and most of the remaining Gruyère cheese. Put another slice of bread on top.

Pour the sauce to the TOP of the sandwiches. Sprinkle with the remaining Gruyère cheese.
Bake in the oven for 5 minutes, then GRILL for another 5 minutes - until the cheese is bubbly and a little browned.

There you have it! Your very own Crispy Mr!
N.B: If you put a fried egg on top it becomes a Croque Madame!


Bon Appetit!