Croque monsieur

Ingredients

• 4 slicewhite bread, thick-cut, crusts left on
• 1 1/2 ozunsalted butter
• 1 ozall-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cupswhole milk, warmed
• 5 1/4 ozGruyère cheese, grated
• 5 1/4 ozcooked ham, sliced
• 2 tspDijon mustard
• 1/4 tspground nutmeg, freshly grated
• 1/2 tspsea salt

Method

1. 1

   Melt the butter, stir in the flour and cook for a minute, then add the warm milk gradually, whisking, until smooth and thick. Season with the nutmeg and salt and stir in a third of the cheese.

2. 2

   Spread Dijon on two slices, add a thin layer of béchamel, then the ham and half the remaining cheese, and close with the other slices.

3. 3

   Sit them on a lined baking sheet, spoon the rest of the béchamel over the top slices and spread it right to the edges, then scatter over the last of the cheese.

4. 4

   Heat the broiler to its highest setting and cook until the tops are bubbling and dark in patches. Let them stand for two minutes before eating.