The croque monsieur: This mannish sandwich is the future of homemade brunches

Brought to you by Henry Denny’s Meat Masters.

This could reinvent your sandwich game.

We're with Joey from Friends when it comes to sandwiches - a good one is a thing of beauty. We decided to channel our inner Tribbiani and team up with Henry Denny's Meat Masters to hunt down the best, tastiest and most inspired sandwiches out there. They know a thing or two about good food in France so it seemed like an obvious place to start. This French classic is what you call a brunch game changer. If you've never had a croque monsieur, you really haven't lived. Seriously. The croque monsieur is to the ham and cheese sandwich what Lionel Messi is to your average Sunday League footballer. This iconic sandwich uses simple, quality ingredients and it can be whipped up in minutes. You can thank us later. Bon appétit! Ingredients Béchamel Sauce 300ml milk 25g flour 25g butter 1 pinch nutmeg 1 pinch white pepper Salt to taste Croque monsieur 2 slices fresh bread 2 slices Henry Denny's Meat Masters Rotisserie Ham. 30g gruyère cheese Method Béchamel Sauce

1. Add the butter to a saucepan and melt over a medium heat.
2. When the butter starts bubbling, add the flour and whisk to mix together.
3. Cook butter and flour for two minutes over low heat. Remove from the saucepan and set aside in a bowl to cool down at room temperature.
4. In a pot, bring the milk with the seasoning to a simmer. Once at a simmer, add the butter and flour to the milk. Whisk continually so that the bottom does not burn. Do this for approximately eight minutes until the bechamel is a thick consistency.
5. Remove from the heat and set aside in a bowl.

Croque monsieur

1. Preheat the oven at 180C.
2. Toast the bread until it’s slightly golden.
3. Generously spread some bechamel on the toast. Add two slices of Henry Denny's Meat Masters Rotisserie Ham. Place the gruyere on top of the ham and finish with another slice of toasted bread.
4. Spread a thin layer of bechamel on top of the croque-monsieur and add some gruyere.
5. Place the croque-monsieur on a baking tray in the oven.
6. Cook until it's hot inside and the top is golden (approximately eight to 10 minutes).

Et voilà! Your perfect brunch sandwich is ready. Henry Denny’s Meat Masters are a team of expert butchers, chefs, curers, etc., who have scoured both Ireland and the world for meat cooking traditions, crafts and styles which they have made their own. The first range to be launched under the brand is Rustic Rotisserie, butter basted, slow cooked and rotisserie meats. The sliced meats are prime thick cuts of Ham, Chicken and Turkey. Find out more here or follow them on Facebook. This article is brought to you by Henry Denny’s Meat Masters.