Triple Decker Croque Monsieurs Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the sauce: Bring the milk, cream, onion, mustard seed, nutmeg, bay leaf, star anise, and cloves to a simmer in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, taking care that the mixture does not boil over. Reduce the heat to low and heat to steep without reducing the liquid, about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture through a wire sieve into a bowl. Press hard on the solids, then discard them. Wash the saucepan.
• Melt the butter in the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and let bubble without browning for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the hot milk mixture and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, whisking often, until no raw flour taste remains, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Dijon mustard. Season to taste with salt. Transfer the sauce to a medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap pressed onto the surface, and let cool completely. (The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.)
• To make four triple-decker sandwiches: For each sandwich, spread a bread slice with about 1 tablespoon of the warm sauce, followed by 2 tablespoons of shredded Gruyere, 2 slices of ham, and 1 slice of Muenster. Repeat with a second bread slice, sauce, Gruyere, ham, and Muenster. Top with a third slice of bread. Cover the remaining sauce with the saucepan lid and set aside. (The sandwiches can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature, with the sauce, for up to 2 hours.)
• Spread the butter on the outermost slices of bread of each sandwich.
• Heat a griddle over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Place the sandwiches onto the griddle. Cook, adjusting the heat as needed so the sandwiches don't brown too quickly but the bread has time to toast, until the undersides are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip them over to brown the other sides and heat the sandwiches through, about 5 minutes more. Transfer the sandwiches to a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until the cheese melts, about 5 minutes.
• Cut each sandwich into quarters with a sharp, serrated knife to avoid pressing the sandwich. Serve warm with any remaining sauce.

Steps:

• Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and spread each slice with 1/2 teaspoon mayonnaise.
• Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Place half (12) of the bread slices, mayonnaise-side down, in the pan and toast until browned, about 3 minutes. Return the toasted bread to the baking sheet, toasted side down, and spread 1 teaspoon mustard on each of the untoasted sides.
• Fold each slice of ham into thirds, as if folding a letter, then cut in half to yield 12 squares. Place the ham squares on top of the mustard.
• Preheat the broiler to high.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until combined; cook until light brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and cook until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the salt and nutmeg. Add 1 cup shredded Gruyere; whisk until melted and the sauce is smooth, about 1 minute. Remove the Mornay sauce from the heat, spoon 1 tablespoon over each square of ham, and then top with 1 teaspoon of the remaining cheese.
• Broil for 1 minute to melt the cheese and toast the remaining 12 slices of bread (these are the tops of your sandwiches). Remove from the oven. Top the sandwiches with the toasted bread and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine milk and cream in a microwave-safe container and microwave on high power, about 90 seconds. The liquid should be warm to the touch.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and keep stirring until all the flour is coated in butter, and the flour and butter begin to bubble, about 2 minutes. Gradually stir in warmed milk and cream and cook until sauce begins to thicken, stirring constantly. Continue stirring, until the sauce is thick and bubbly, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat and brown 4 pieces of bread on 1 side, about 4 minutes. Place browned bread on the prepared baking sheet, browned side down.
• Spread each piece of bread with Bechamel sauce, from edge to edge. Place two slices of deli ham on the Bechamel and top with 1/2 cup of grated Gruyere cheese. Place remaining bread slices on top of each sandwich and spread the top with Bechamel, from edge to edge. Sprinkle the top of each sandwich with 2 tablespoons grated Gruyere cheese and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Turn on the oven's broiler.
• Move baking sheet about 6 inches from the heat source and broil sandwiches until the top is bubbly and brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Watch carefully, to avoid scorching the parchment paper and burning the cheese. Allow the sandwiches to cool slightly, cut in half, and serve warm.

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the milk, double cream, onion, garlic and bay leaves and heat over a medium heat until it just starts to boil.
• Take off the heat and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
• Pour the milk mixture through a sieve into a jug.
• Then, in a saucepan, gently melt the butter and add the flour. Stir together over a low-medium heat for 1 -2 minutes.
• Gradually add the milk in three parts whilst continually stirring.
• Continue to stir and bring the sauce to a gentle boil.
• Take off the heat and stir in the dijon mustard and ground nutmeg.
• Next, brush the two slices of bread with the melted butter and grill for about 5 minutes until golden brown.
• Take out of the grill and preheat the heat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
• Flip the slices of bread over and spread one slice with a thin layer of dijon mustard, followed by another layer of the béchamel sauce, followed by the cheese and then the ham.
• Place the other slice of bread on top and coat with more béchamel sauce and cheese.
• Bake for about 15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling.
• Serve with fresh salad!
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in bottom third. Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat until hot, about 5 minutes. Melt butter in another saucepan over medium heat; add flour, whisk to combine, and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons thyme, then gradually whisk in milk. Simmer bechamel 2 minutes, whisking. Remove from heat, and add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Cut top crust off bread; slice loaf in half horizontally. Fill sandwich with mustard, ham, and half the Gruyere. Toast on a baking sheet until cheese is melted and top is golden brown.
• Remove from oven. Preheat broiler. Spread bechamel on top, and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Broil until golden brown and bubbling, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven; garnish with pepper and remaining thyme. Let sit 10 minutes before cutting.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees with rack in bottom third. Blanch broccoli rabe in batches in a pot of salted boiling water until just tender, about 2 minutes. Drain.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic; cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add broccoli rabe; cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Season with salt. Let cool slightly, then finely chop.
• For each sandwich, spread 2 teaspoons jam on one bread slice and 1 teaspoon mustard on another. Layer one slice with cheese, broccoli rabe, and ham, dividing evenly. Close sandwich; brush each side with butter.
• Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet, top with 2 tablespoons bechamel and 1/4 cup grated Gruyere. Broil until golden brown and bubbling, about 10 minutes.