Croque Monsieur with Old Amsterdam Cheese
Croque Monsieur with Old Amsterdam Cheese is a rich and elevated take on the classic French grilled cheese sandwich. It features buttery brioche bread layered with thinly sliced ham plenty of shredded Old Amsterdam cheese and a creamy homemade bechamel sauce that gets baked until bubbly and golden. A touch of lingonberry jam or cranberry sauce adds a sweet tart contrast that cuts through the richness perfectly.
To build the sandwich start by spreading a thin layer of bechamel on the bottom slices of brioche then add the ham and a handful of cheese. Close it up top generously with more bechamel and the remaining cheese and bake until the top is melty and delicious. The Old Amsterdam cheese brings a deep nutty aged flavor that makes this version stand out from a basic grilled cheese.
This is perfect for a special lunch or brunch when you want something indulgent yet easy to prepare.
Croque Monsieur with Old Amsterdam Cheese
Ingredients
For the bechamel sauce
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk
- 2 cups shredded Old Amsterdam cheese divided
- Salt to taste
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
For the sandwiches
- 8 slices brioche bread
- 7 ounces thinly sliced ham juniper-cured if available otherwise regular cooked ham
- 1/4 cup lingonberry jam cranberry sauce works as a substitute
Instructions
- 1 Make the bechamel sauce
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat
- Whisk in 1 tablespoon flour and cook for about 1 minute
- Slowly whisk in 1 1/4 cups whole milk
- Simmer for about 10 minutes stirring often until thickened
- Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded Old Amsterdam cheese until melted and smooth
- Season with salt a pinch of nutmeg and a pinch of cayenne pepper
- Set aside
- 2 Assemble the sandwiches
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Spread a thin layer of bechamel on 4 slices of brioche
- Top each with ham slices and a small handful of shredded Old Amsterdam cheese
- Spread lingonberry jam on the other 4 slices of brioche or add a thin layer on top of the ham
- Close the sandwiches
- Place on a baking sheet
- Spread more bechamel sauce generously on top of each sandwich and sprinkle with the remaining shredded Old Amsterdam cheese
- 3 Bake
- Bake for about 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden
- For extra browning broil for the last 1-2 minutes watching carefully
- 4 Serve
- Optional Top with a dollop of lingonberry jam or cranberry sauce for a sweet-tart contrast
Notes
