by The Webmaster
Serves: 4 people. Preparation time: 20 minutes.
- 8 Slices Sourdough Bread
- 16 Slices of Gruyere or Emmental French Cheese
- 4 oz. Thinly Sliced Smoked Ham like Black Forest or Boars Head™
- 4 T. Softened Butter
- 2 T. Dijon Mustard
The sandwiches can be broiled or pan fried. Preheat the broiler or frying pan. Place a few slices of cheese and ham on one slice of bread. Spread some mustard on the ham to taste. Then cover with the second slice of bread. Spread butter on the outside of both slices. Place the sandwiches on an ungreased baking sheet and broil for about 5 minutes until golden, then turn them over and cook the other side about 5 minutes more. A variation that works in the broiler, places one extra slice of cheese on the top of the second side before broiling . Pan frying is similar, frying on both sides until they are crispy and brown. Makes four sandwiches.
You can easily change this into a Croque Madam by topping the grilled sandwich with a Fried or Poached Egg.
"Croque Monsieur" - It literally means a "Crunchy Mister". The sandwiches showed up on Paris café menus about 1910, and now are popular all over France for a lunch time meal. Variations now include the addition of tomato slices or substituting salmon for the ham. Still others substitute Mornay or Béchamel sauce for the mustard.
