Name: Croque-monsieur
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 30 gram butter; 4 slices bread – i use sourdough; 1 tablespoon (heaped tbsp) flour; 100 millilitre milk; pinch salt and pepper; 100 gram gruyère cheese, grated; 2 tablespoon wholegrain mustard; 200 gram shaved ham

Croque-monsieur

Trust the French to turn the humble ham and cheese toasted sandwich into a thing of pure culinary beauty! Make these for breakfast, lunch or dinner and share them with your workmates, friends and family. You will soon be a local hero!

Serves 2

Cook

30M

Ingredients

30 gram butter

4 slices bread – i use sourdough

1 tablespoon (heaped tbsp) flour

100 millilitre milk

pinch salt and pepper

100 gram gruyère cheese, grated

2 tablespoon wholegrain mustard

200 gram shaved ham

Method

1.Preheat oven to 200°C.

2.Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Brush one side of each bread slice using a small amount of the butter, then grill until golden. Set aside.

3.To make a béchamel sauce, put a pot over low heat. Melt the remaining butter in the pot and add the flour, cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

4.Whisk in the milk, then salt and pepper until the béchamel sauce bubbles and thickens – around 6-8 minutes. Stir in half the cheese and set aside.

5.Spread the mustard onto the unbuttered side of two bread slices, cover with the ham and the remaining cheese, then top with the remaining slices of bread, their toasted sides facing up. Press down slightly and place on an oven tray.

6.Spoon the béchamel sauce liberally over each sandwich and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden.

Women's Weekly Food