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

1. 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.
2. Stir in garlic; cook for 30 seconds. Sprinkle flour on onion mixture; cook and stir constantly 1 minute.
3. Slowly stir in chicken stock. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in cream cheese; stirring constantly with whisk until smooth.
5. 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.
6. Stir in ham, 2 teaspoons of the Dijon mustard and the salt; cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until heated through.
7. 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.
8. 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