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Croque Monsieur with Old Amsterdam Cheese
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Croque Monsieur with Old Amsterdam Cheese

Grown-up grilled cheese sandwich with bechamel sauce

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

Pro tip Use good-quality brioche for that buttery crisp exterior
Tip text