MAKES 15-20 pieces
INGREDIENTS
CHEESE SAUCE
- 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 tablespoon flour
- 2/3 cup half and half
- 1 cup freshly grated gruyere cheese
- pinch of salt, pepper + nutmeg
CROQUE MONSIEUR
- 6 ounces deli ham
- 1 large baguette, sliced (you want 15 to 20 pieces)
- 1/2 cup grainy dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup freshly grated gruyere cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- fresh herbs for sprinkling, parsley, basil, sage
INSTRUCTIONS
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Note: I love to use crispy ham in this recipe, but you don’t have to.
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Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add ham in batches, turning with kitchen tongs and cooking until crispy on all sides. Remove and place on a plate. Once cool, tear into pieces since the crostini is smaller.
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Heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Once sizzling, whisk in the flour and cook until golden, about 1 to 2 minutes, to create a roux. Add milk and stir constantly until slightly thickened, then reduce heat to low and add in gruyere. Stir until melted, then season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
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In a bowl, mix together the grated gruyere and parmesan.
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Take each slice of baguette and spread it with the grainy mustard. Add a sprinkling of cheese, then top that with a piece of crispy ham. Cover the top with a heaping spoonful of cheese sauce. Add another sprinkling of grated cheese. Repeat with all the bread slices.
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Bake the crostini for 15 minutes, until golden and bubbly on top. If desired, you can broil at the end for a moment to make the cheese even more bubbly and golden.
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Serve immediately.
https://www.howsweeteats.com/2015/12/croque-monsieur-crostini/