Mary's croque monsieur
Wonderfully naughty snack, brunch or lunch – great for hungry teenagers. Sit a fried egg on top of the sandwich and it becomes a croque madame. Choose a good quality ham, ideally hand carved from a freshly cooked joint.
Ingredients
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú butter
- 4 slices white bread
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 4 thin slices smoked ham
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú ³Ò°ù³Ü²âè°ù±ð cheese, coarsely grated
- 15²µ/½´Ç³ú plain flour
- 150ml/5fl oz hot full-fat milk
- pinch ground nutmeg
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Preheat the grill to medium. Line a baking sheet with foil.
Melt half of the butter in a small saucepan. Brush the butter over one side of each slice of bread and place the bread on the baking sheet, buttered side up. Grill for 1–2 minutes, until lightly golden.
Turn the bread over and spread the unbuttered side with mustard. Put two slices of ham on two slices of the mustard-spread bread. Scatter half of the cheese over the ham and cover with the remaining bread, toasted side up, to make two sandwiches.
Melt the remaining butter in the saucepan, whisk in the flour and heat for a few seconds. Whisk in the hot milk until thickened. Remove from the heat and add the nutmeg and 25g/1oz of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
Spread the white sauce over the top of both sandwiches and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Put back under the grill for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the top is golden brown and bubbling.
Leave for a few seconds before slicing in half, then serve hot.