American Grilled Cheese vs. French Grilled Cheese (Croque Monsieur)
A head-to-head comparison of two iconic grilled cheese sandwiches: the simple, nostalgic American grilled cheese made with white bread, processed cheese, and optional ham, versus the rich and sophisticated French Croque Monsieur made with artisanal sourdough, Gruyere, Jambon de Paris, creamy Mornay sauce, and broiled Emmental. Chef's tips: (1) Always spread softened butter completely from edge to edge to ensure an even, beautiful crust. (2) Do not rush the toasting process; medium heat ensures the bread gets crispy while giving the cheese inside enough time to melt. (3) Whisk the Mornay sauce constantly when adding milk to prevent any flour lumps from forming.
- Time: 30 min
- Servings: 2
Source: ChefChef
Ingredients
- slices White sandwich bread
- To taste Unsalted butter
- slices American cheese slices
- slice Pepper Jack cheese
- slices Thinly sliced deli ham
- thick slices Country sourdough bread
- slices Jambon de Paris
- Grated Gruyere cheese
- To taste Grated Emmental cheese
- All-purpose flour
- Whole milk
- To taste Salt and black pepper
- Fresh nutmeg