I got 11 cheeses in my fridge, and Gruyere ain’t one. So, I knew I was going to have to change today’s Barefoot Bloggers recipe: Ina Garten’s version of the traditional Croque Monsieur (which we’ll loosely translate as “Mr. Crunch”). A grilled ham and Gruyere sandwich slathered in a Gruyere Mornay sauce and topped with … Gruyere. Gruyere City.
But last weekend, I went to Whole Foods, and they had a hunk of Habanero Cheddar the size of a butcher block in the produce section. And that hunk of Habanero spoke to me just as surely as the burning bush spoke to Moses, and it said, “Verily, the sandwich of destiny is the Croque Señor. Make it so. Habanero out.”
Totally a Trekkie!
So, I went home and toasted some baguette slices, used them to make ham and Habanero Cheddar sandwiches, topped those sandwiches with a Habanero Cheddar Mornay sauce and sprinkled EVEN MORE Habanero Cheddar over each one. Then they went into the oven to broil until the magnificently cheesy topping was all bubbly and golden, and the air was thick with the scent of spicy, spicy cheddar. And it was goooooood. Crunchy and gooey, rich and soul-burning.
A sandwich that required a knife, a fork and a very large Mason jar full of ice water.
Can’t wait to make them again.
Croque Señor
Adapted from Ina Garten’s “Barefoot in Paris”
Makes 4 sandwiches
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup hot milk
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 6 ounces Habanero Cheddar, grated (2 1/2 cups)
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 8 slices French bread
- Dijon mustard
- 4 ounces ham, sliced but not paper thin
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and then add the flour, stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Slowly add the hot milk, bring up the heat to medium, and whisk constantly, until the sauce is thickened. Off the heat, add the salt, pepper, 1/2 cup grated Habanero Cheddar and the Parmesan; set aside.
- Place the slices on a baking sheet, and bake for 4 minutes. Turn each slice and bake for another 2 minutes, until toasted.
- Lightly brush half the toasted bread slices with mustard, add a slice of ham to each, and sprinkle with half the remaining Habanero Cheddar. Top with another piece of toasted bread. Slather the tops with the cheese sauce, sprinkle with the remaining Habanero Cheddar, and bake the sandwiches for 5 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and lightly browned. Serve hot.
[ad name=”space”]
That's a great substitution! Looks delicious.
That looks delicious. I am addicted to habanero chedder cheese. we put it in everything.
Now THAT looks delicious and sounds like a great substitution, and opens up a whole new thought process — prime rib croque sandwich with a horseradish cheddar cheese sauce? Hmmm, could be good.
Great substitution and I like that you used French bread. Looks so good I may again tomorrow.
Genius! I bet the the spice from the peppery cheese was incredible!
Yum! I love the idea of using habanero cheddar. I bet it was delicious. It sure looks amazing!
:) Very cute! (And I'll bet it was tasty too!)
Mmmmmm, now THAT"s a sammich! Sounds and looks GOOOOOD.
~ingrid
Ole! What a delicious substitution. This looks fabulous! What amazing super-human powers you have…I wish cheese talked to me.
I used Swiss instead.
This sandwich was fabulous.
This is fabulous! I LOVE the use of habanero cheddar. My hubs would love this combination!
;) amy
Awesome. I love it. (Even though I'm so tired of eating grilled cheese for National Grilled Cheese month that I may never make a grilled cheese again.)
I love your croque senor! The melty cheese looks wonderful. YUM.
great substitution! glad you enjoyed it!
Can you put an egg on it to make it a Senora? Cause that'd just be so good!
i'm jealous that i couldn't top mine with a blanket of goodness… i love burnt cheese.
Oh my gah. This sandwich looks incredible. I'm a huge fan of your habanero cheddar sub-in. How perfect! Way to mix up an old classic. You're making me jealous that I don't have a block of this cheddar in my fridge right now.
Rebecca,
While I am off croque monsieur after a somewhat unfortunate experience in Paris, I have to say your post made me laugh until I almost peed my pants!
Ha! Thanks for my first belly laugh of the day. This looks AMAZING and wonderful and I can't wait to try it once I get back from Savannah.
Have mercy does that sound good.
Not to insult your Croque Senor but for some reason, the photo reminded me of high school, when friends and I drove to Jackson on a Saturday and ate lunch at Bennigan's, the height of sophistication. We'd split an order of fried cheese and at least one person would get a monte cristo sandwich. Ah, good times.
Well heck. I probably would have like that. I can dig some habenero.
OH!!! That sandwich looks fantabulous. I have always wanted to try one. Maybe this is the time.
Great idea to change cheese – and 11 cheeses in your fridge – that's even more than us.
YUMMY!!!!!!!!
I hated gruyere for the longest time too! Almost thought it tasted a bit like baby vomit- or at least how I envisioned baby vomit to taste like. Then I tried a few French gruyeres that are more aged and was converted.
Ain't nothin' wrong with a good cheddar, though.
Fun post, as always….
That's a spicy sandwich! love it
croque senor? LOVE IT!
Yum- spicy sounds even better than the original- I have to try it! :)
Que bueno!
love it!! what a great substitute for the gruyere!