Croque Monsieur

Croque Monsieur, hello!  When choosing my side past times side "Learn With Me" recipe I wanted to tackle something obtainable, that wouldn't discourage me in addition to this column (my biggest fear)!  Without getting also serious, because it is really, simply a grilled cheese, this french version taught me a whole lot (really) in addition to if you're similar me, simply learning or a well-seasoned cook, next directions to anything is key. And the fundamental hither is butter! Butter, butter, butter!  Oh in addition to of course of report butter!




Actually at that topographic point are a lot of keys to a proficient Croque Monsieur, in addition to what I learned past times non alone next the recipe from Madame Ginette Mathiot, in addition to researching it, at that topographic point are quite a few versions.  Which is the most authentic? That is debatable, in addition to belike depends inwards which percentage inwards French Republic yous are eating it.  When I lived inwards Montreal, I was most familiar alongside the bundled version; a overnice picayune packet of grilled cheesy goodness, wrapped inwards parchment making it non hence messy when grabbing a fast lunch. But the ones yous run across most inwards recipe books include the béchamel version, which folks, is a whole other animal.  So today I acquaint you, the ane I'm most familiar, in addition to luckily, Madame Mathiot is too!

Croque agency crunch, in addition to as I mentioned, butter is fundamental in addition to is what gives this French bistro favorite its' crunch.  There is an entire stick of butter, hence it's most deep fried —and this is what differentiates it from an American grilled cheese. Oh, in addition to the gruyere! It's a picayune tricky inwards that the breadstuff tin mail away become soggy from all the butter soaking in, hence a staler breadstuff is what is recommended (or toast fresher breadstuff a fleck first), along alongside the right cooking temperature. Learn alongside me!

Croque Monsieur (makes 2)
four slices of white (staler side) breadstuff (trim off crusts)
1 stick of butter
four slices of gruyere cheese (or plenty to encompass each 2 pieces of bread)
2 pieces of ham (trimmed the same size as the bread)
kitchen twine (to necktie or hence the sandwich)
Optional - dijon mustard

Like my previous Learn alongside Me recipe, I've tested this several times.  And this time, I wasn't able to follow directions quite exactly, which I'll explicate inwards steps.  So starting fourth dimension off, butter both sides of the breadstuff slices.  Place cheese on ane side, in addition to ham on the other.  What some recipes I noticed appear to exercise at this betoken is add together a spell inwards betwixt the cheese in addition to ham (but this recipe does not).  Firmly closed the breads together in addition to necktie alongside kitchen twine (to proceed things inwards tact).  Heat upwards a skillet to moderate rut in addition to melt one-half of the residue of remaining butter.  Once it has melted in addition to is bubbling a fleck (careful non to burn), add together the Croque Monsieur. The recipe tells yous to gear upwards each side for four min each.  Maybe because I don't bring a gas stove, I couldn't brand this travel on without burning (and at the same fourth dimension keeping the breadstuff from going soggy), hence basically alongside my electrical ceramic stove, it took to a greater extent than similar 2 minutes per side.  In betwixt flipping, add together the remaining butter (spreading or hence evenly).  Cook until nicely browned in addition to serve immediately. As an option, yous tin mail away spread dijon mustard on ane of the within slices of breads instead of butter which is as delicious!  I dear it alongside gherkin pickles the most (it seems to duet good alongside the smokey sense of savor of the gruyere). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grape is overnice too! And for this grilled cheese, no dipping inwards ketchup! Try the dijon method if yous immature lady a fleck of tang.  And that my friends is it! I'm a fleck choked I didn't photograph it opened upwards alongside all the cheese melting down, but trust me, it is cheesy wheesy good! I cry back this would brand a sugariness Valentine's Day tiffin for 2 (maybe cutting the breadstuff alongside a pump cookie cutter)? Bon Apetit!

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