Croque monsieur’s crunchy, buttery outside and oozy cheesy inside make it the ultimate comfort food, and it’s super easy for the kids to make.

INGREDIENTS

50g gruyère cheese, grated
1 tablespoon crème fraîche
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
20g butter, softened
4 slices bread, such as sourdough casalinga, about 1.5 cm thick
70g shaved ham

METHOD

In a mixing bowl, combine gruyère, crème fraîche and mustard.

On a chopping board, butter one side of each of the bread slices. Turn them over to reveal the unbuttered side and, using a small bowl scraper, cover each slice with the cheese mixture right to the edges. Place the ham on two slices and tuck in as neatly as possible, then top with the remaining slices of bread.

Heat a frying pan on medium heat for 30 seconds. Using a spatula, carefully place the sandwiches into the frying pan. Fry until lightly golden, about 3 minutes. Wearing an oven mitt and using the spatula, carefully flip sandwiches over and fry until lightly golden on the second side.

With the spatula, press down firmly on each sandwich for 30 seconds to stick the two sides together. Cook for another 2–3 minutes, until golden-brown, then transfer the sandwiches onto plates.

Use a pizza cutter to slice sandwiches in half and serve immediately.

TIME-SAVING TIPS

Have all your equipment and ingredients ready. Find a kitchen hand to help you prepare the ingredients ahead of time.

Recipe appears courtesy of Cooked.com.au.

This recipe first appeared in Half-Hour Hungries by Sabrina Parrini