Recipe: Baked Croque Monsieur

Baked Croque Monsieur

Serves 6

Ingredients

Method

Béchamel Sauce

50 g. Butter

45 g. Plain Flour

380 ml. Milk (Full Fat)

1 tsp. Mustard (Dijon)

1 Garlic Clove (Grated)

¼ tsp. Nutmeg (Grated)

¼ tsp. Salt and Pepper (to your taste)

1 Baguette

110 g. Cheese - Gruyere

24 Ham (Cooked Ham Thinly Sliced )

In a small saucepan place the butter on a medium heat and sprinkle the flour over the butter and stir continuously until the mixture in the pan is slightly golden.

Very slowly start adding the milk whilst continuously whisking, then add the mustard, nutmeg, grated garlic and seasoning.

Stir well and allow the mixture to bubble until it becomes thick and slightly elastic. Put to one side.

Sandwiches

Preheat the oven to 430ºF / 220ºC

Slice the baguette into 24 slices 1cm thick. Line a baking tray with baking paper and lay the slices on it. Top each slice with a tablespoon of béchamel sauce and then some grated cheese.

Place 2 slices of ham on top of half the slices, then place the slices without ham on top of the ham slices cheese side up.

Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the sauce and the cheese are bubbly and they are golden brown. Serve immediately with a crisp green salad.