Croque Monsieurs a la Rachelle
My take on French grilled cheese and ham sammys (Rachael Ray) |
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Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 20 Minutes |
Ready In: 30 Minutes Servings: 4 |
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Ingredients:
8 slices good quality white bread, buy bread at in-store fresh bakery section of a large market or local bakery and have it sliced for you |
6 tablespoons butter, divided |
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour |
2 cups half-and-half or milk |
1/2 teaspoon salt, eyeball it |
2 tablespoons prepared dijon mustard, plus extra to pass at the table |
3/4 pound french or french style ham, such as mandrange, deli sliced or, sliced boiled ham |
2/3 pound thinly sliced gruyere or swiss cheese (recommended: emmentaler) |
1 small jar cornichons or baby gherkin pickles, available on condiment aisle of market |
1 small jar pickled onions, also available on condiments aisle |
Directions:
1. Line up 8 slices of bread on a work surface.
2. 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.
3. Heat a large nonstick griddle or skillet over medium heat.
4. 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.
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