Soup, Chili, Stew and Dumpling Recipes
Croque Monsieur Soup
A twist on the classic French bistro sandwich - creamy cheese soup with ham, topped with a thick slice of cheesy French bread - Ooh la la! Croque Monsieur roughly translates to “Mister Crispy,” a traditional French ham and cheese sandwich with toasted bread, covered with a béchamel sauce and more cheese, baked or fried.
Prep: 30 min | Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 large sweet onions, cut in half and thickly sliced (4 cups)
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups Progresso™ unsalted chicken stock (from 32 ounce carton)
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cut in cubes
- 2 cups Half-and-Half
- 2 1/2 cups (10 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese or Gruyère cheese
- 2 cups chopped cooked ham (about 10 ounces)
- 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 (1 inch thick) slices French bread
- Cornichons, if desired
Instructions
- In 5 quart Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat until sizzling. Cook onions in butter for 13 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are light golden brown.
- Stir in garlic; cook for 30 seconds. Sprinkle flour on onion mixture; cook and stir constantly 1 minute.
- Slowly stir in chicken stock. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in cream cheese; stirring constantly with whisk until smooth.
- Stir in Half-and-Half until blended. Slowly add 2 cups of the cheese, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until cheese is melted.
- Stir in ham, 2 teaspoons of the Dijon mustard and the salt; cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until heated through.
- Meanwhile, set oven control to broil. Place French bread slices on ungreased cookie sheet. Spread remaining 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard evenly on cut sides of bread. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Broil with tops 5 inches from heat for 1 to 2 minutes or just until cheese is melted and golden brown. Watch carefully so cheese does not burn.
- Serve soup topped with bread slices and cornichons, if using.
Notes
The long, slow cooking of the onions gives this soup its rich caramelized-onion flavor and color.
Gruyère cheese is a rich, nutty, buttery-tasting form of Swiss, without the holes.
Nutrition
Per serving: Calories 720 Calories from Fat 380 Total Fat 43g Saturated Fat 25g Trans Fat 1 1/2g Cholesterol 135mg Sodium 1370mg Total Carbohydrate 51g Dietary Fiber 2g Sugars 8g Protein 32g
% Daily Value*: Vitamin A 25% Vitamin C 4% Calcium 40% Iron 20%
Exchanges:1 1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 1 1/2 Milk; 1/2 Vegetable; 2 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 6 Fat
Carbohydrate Choice 3 1/2
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Attribution
Recipe and photo used with permission from:
Betty Crocker