Croque monsieur

Ingredientes

• 24 slices of white sandwich bread
• 24 slices of sliced ham, or about 3 cups of shredded ham
• 12 oz grated Gruyère cheese
• 2 cups of full fat milk
• 1/2 onion
• 5 whole cloves
• pinch of nutmeg
• pinch of ground white pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 sprig of thyme
• 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• pinch os salt

Modo de preparo

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 400F

2. 2

   --- For the Béchamel: ---

3. 3

   Make an onion piquet by piercing the cloves into a half an onion. Then add it to a pot over low heat with the butter to melt. Let the onion sweat with the butter a few minutes.

4. 4

   Then add the milk, the spices, bay leaf and the sprig of thyme and bring to a low simmer.

5. 5

   When the milk simmers, remove the herbs and the onion, and discard. Then, add the flour and whisk rapidly to avoid lumping. Whisk until the sauce thickens and coats the back of the spoon.

6. 6

   --- Assembling the Sandwiches: ---

7. 7

   Layer half of the bread on a sheet or roasting pan.

8. 8

   Add a thin layer of béchamel to the bread (spread it like butter with a spatula). Then arrange the ham, then the cheese, ladle in some more of the béchamel on top of the cheese, and then top with the second slice of bread. Finish with another generous layer of cheese on top and bake until the cheese is melted and golden.